LA-26 Environmental Charter High – Gardena: Expanded Climate Action Pathway

Pathways Improvement Scope

Environmental Charter High – Gardena will use K12 SWP funding to expand its existing Climate Action Pathway into a comprehensive youth apprenticeship pipeline connecting sustainability, energy, engineering, and architecture coursework to postsecondary education and green-economy careers. Building on its Round 7 work, the project will deepen alignment with El Camino College by expanding dual enrollment in Sustainable Design and Science/Engineering, embedding industry-recognized credentials, and developing a formal pre-apprenticeship aligned with CAPS’s U.S. Department of Labor-registered Sustainability Specialist Apprenticeship. The pathway will integrate work-based learning, industry mentorship, technical skill development, and apprenticeship experiences to create a stronger K–14+ bridge from high school to college, apprenticeship, and high-wage careers.

Goals & Priorities

The primary goal is to establish a progressive 9–12 pathway that moves students from early career exploration and work-based learning into dual enrollment, pre-apprenticeship, industry credentials, and registered apprenticeship opportunities. Key priorities include providing all 9th and 10th graders with apprenticeship-aligned career exposure; establishing an 11th-grade pre-apprenticeship cohort with an 80% completion target; enabling approximately five seniors annually to earn registered apprenticeship hours; expanding early college credit and industry credentials such as Google Data Analytics, Microsoft Excel, and ArcGIS; and ensuring at least 75% of participants represent underserved student populations. Targeted tutoring, mentoring, counseling, bilingual outreach, transportation, and other wraparound supports are incorporated to improve equitable access and completion.