Newton County School System is pleased to announce that both Eastside High School and Newton High School have each been awarded $5,000 Georgia Work Ready training grants. They are two of only 56 high schools in the state to receive the grant that will provide three-year access to skills-gap training software to help students improve their Work Ready Certificate levels. The funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The Work Ready Grants will enable our schools to provide training related to the Georgia Work Ready Assessment administered through the Governor’s Office,” said James Woodard, Director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE). “In addition, it will assist students in preparing for academic assessments as well. This is a great honor for both Eastside and Newton High School.”Georgia’s Work Ready program is based on a skills assessment and certification for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses. By identifying both the needs of businesses and the available skills of Georgia’s workforce, the state can more effectively ensure that it is providing the right talent for the right jobs.

“Earning a Work Ready Certificate tells a potential employer that an individual has the core job skills necessary for success,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The Work Ready software helps students improve their work readiness, provides students with a better understanding of the skills employers look for in a successful employee, and help high schools improve their graduation rates." Each school receiving the grant is required to provide the Work Ready assessment to at least 50 percent of its senior class each year for three years. The schools must also incorporate the training tools into their curriculum to ensure that all interested students in other grade levels have access to them.

“Our goal at Eastside High School is to use every available resource to make sure every child has every chance to succeed,” said Dennis Roddenberry, Principal of Eastside High School. “The Georgia Work Ready Grant provides our students an opportunity to widen their scope of career choices.  The larger their experience and expertise, the greater their chances of succeeding in their choice for a life's work will be."

“As Principal of Newton High School, it is my goal to provide every child every chance to achieve educational excellence in the capacity that will best fit their needs,” said Dr. Roderick Sams. “The Georgia Work Ready Grant would focus on those programs that would not only interest our students but make them more marketable in the work place.”