Florida’s Department of Education has announced the allocation of $14.6 million in funding to expand registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs across the state. The money, awarded through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG), will be distributed among 34 entities, including school districts, colleges, state universities, and private training organizations.
According to Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas, the grant will support more than 7,100 participants as they engage in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction. “Governor DeSantis’ continued investment in workforce education is transforming opportunities for students across Florida,” said Kamoutsas. “These programs give students the chance to train alongside industry experts and discover their strengths and step confidently into the jobs that drive Florida’s economy forward.”
Since its inception, the PCOG program has awarded $105 million and funded over 350 proposals, serving more than 20,000 participants throughout Florida. These efforts have provided students with access to practical training methods that benefit both job seekers and businesses by increasing opportunities for apprenticeships and preapprenticeships. A full list of grant recipients for 2025-26 is available at https://www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant/.
The initiative aligns with Governor Ron DeSantis’s commitment of more than $10 billion toward workforce education and training programs in Florida. This investment has contributed to making Florida a leading state for attracting and developing skilled workers. Currently, nearly 800,000 K-12 students are enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs—the highest number in state history—alongside more than 480,000 postsecondary CTE students and over 22,400 registered apprentices and preapprentices.
Additional information about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program can be found at www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
