Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 10, 2005

Metro and Cardozo High School Collaborate in a School-to-Work Partnership

Today the Metro Board Budget Committee tentatively approved a school-to-work partnership between Metro and Cardozo High School in the District of Columbia. In addition to the required courses for graduation, select students from the transportation and technology program at Cardozo High will also get a chance to take foundation classes in electro-mechanics.

"We are very honored to be participating with the District of Columbia Public School system in such a unique learning opportunity," says Gladys Mack, Vice Chairperson of the Metro Board. "The school-to-work program gives students both classroom and hands-on experience in learning technical trade skills which will better prepare them for technical field employment in the future."

The program, designed for eligible juniors and seniors, will accommodate 36 students with two program instructors  one Metro technical skills employee and one Cardozo High instructor. Juniors will take a principles of technology course and an electronics/electricity course on the Cardozo campus. Seniors will spend about three hours per day at Metro’s Carmen E. Turner maintenance and training facility in a custom designed course covering advanced electronics, workplace safety and basic tools.

Metro will be responsible for developing curriculum and supplying equipment, including computers, desktop electronic kits and equipment for hands-on lab work. The program, which costs about $300,000 annually, will be reimbursed to Metro by the District of Columbia.

The school-to-work program begins with juniors this September, 2005 and will expand in the fall of 2006 to include juniors and seniors. A full program evaluation will be presented to the Metro Board at the end of the program’s second year.

News release issued on March 10, 2005.