The Peoria Pathways To Prosperity Network is using a new grant to help both businesses and schools match curriculum with regional job demand. To that end, the American Federation of Teachers awarded Peoria a $60,000 grant.
Peoria is one of only four cities to receive the funding, along with Pittsburgh, Miami and San Francisco.
Pathways Director Paula Davis says the funding will pay for salary and benefit costs to hire a coordinator to help both businesses and teachers talk about aligning classes with area jobs.
Davis says the Regional Office of Education is also planning to manage new software programs in the coming year that will help match student internship opportunities with their interests and class choice.