2026-2027

K-12 SWP Round 9

California’s economic strength depends on a skilled workforce that can respond to regional labor-market needs and support economic mobility. The Strong Workforce Program invests in career technical education and workforce training that prepare students for high-wage, high-demand employment.

Beginning in 2018–19, California allocated $150 million annually to K–12 local educational agencies through the K12 Strong Workforce Program. The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, in partnership with the California Department of Education, administers these funds to create, support, improve, and expand high-quality CTE courses, sequences, programs of study, and pathways.

Round 9 projects should strengthen connections between secondary and postsecondary education, further training, and living-wage employment. Proposed projects must respond to documented regional workforce needs, align with the Los Angeles Strong Workforce Program Regional Plan, and demonstrate purposeful collaboration with at least one California community college or community college district. Funding is intended to support new, innovative, improved, or expanded work—not simply sustain existing programs.

View the Round 9 Request for Application

Round 9 RFA - View PDF

Allocations by Region

Regional Consortium	K12 SWP Allocation
Bay Area	$27,440,790
Central Valley/Mother Lode	$22,400,569
Inland Empire/Desert	$20,909,377
Los Angeles	$22,753,104
Orange County	$11,488,850
North/Far North	$21,290,984
San Diego/Imperial	$13,404,697
South Central Coast	$10,311,629
TOTAL	$150,000,000

Maximum request by ADA

Combined Grades 7–12 ADA	Maximum Allowable Grant Amount
Up to 140 ADA	$250,000
141–550 ADA	$500,000
551–10,000 ADA	$1,000,000
Over 10,000 ADA	$2,000,000

Web note: Total ADA is calculated by aggregating the grades 7–12 ADA of the Lead LEA and all funded or served K–12 Partner Agencies included in one application. The Selection Committee may award less than the amount requested.

Calendar of Key Dates for K12 SWP Grant Cycle

Date	Event
August 31, 2026	K12 SWP RFA Released
TBD	NOVA Application opens / platform training posted to Chancellor’s Office website
August 26, 2026	Live Bidder's Conference
September 2, 2026	Regional Engagement Information Session - 9:00a.m.
September 11, 2026	Written RFA questions due by 5:00 p.m. to K12SWP@CCCCO.edu
September 25, 2026	Regional Engagement Information Sessions conclude
October 2, 2026	Applications due and certified in NOVA by 5:00 p.m.
November 20, 2026	Selection Committee review period concludes
November 20, 2026	Regional Consortia announce preliminary awards
November 20, 2026	Data Sharing MOU deadline
December 4, 2026	Round 9 appeals due to Regional Consortium by 5:00 p.m.
December 18, 2026	Regional Consortia release Intent to Award to LEAs
January 1, 2027	Round 9 project term begins
January 28, 2027	LARC Round 9 kickoff
June 30, 2029	Round 9 project term ends

LOS ANGELES ROUND 9 (2026–27) SELECTION COMMITTEE CRITERIA

How Applications are Reviewed

Each eligible application will be read and scored by at least three trained reviewers from the Los Angeles K12 Selection Committee. The review period takes place October 9 and concludes November 20, 2026.

Minimum Score

Applications are scored on a 116-point scale. A minimum average score of 75 across multiple reviewers is required to be considered for funding. Meeting the minimum score does not guarantee an award.

Point Distribution

Positive Considerations: 13 points; Additional Positive Considerations: 3 points; Problem Statement and Project Objectives: 40 points; Project Work Plan: 45 points; Budget: 15 points. All other required application sections are not scored but must be completed.

Regional Funding Considerations

The Selection Committee makes regional award and funding decisions based on the merits and proportionality of the request, alignment with the intent of the legislation, Los Angeles Regional Plan priorities, local labor-market demand, regional economic needs, proposed scope of work, and past performance of applicants seeking additional funding. The committee may award less than the amount requested and is not required to fund the highest-scoring applications when they do not align with regional priorities or economic needs.

Selection Criteria Link

View the full Round 9 Scoring Rubrics and Los Angeles Selection Committee Criteria

Regional Convening

K12 Strong Workforce Program: LARC Round 9 (2026–27) Regional Engagement Session

- Recording Link
- Presentation Slides

Description
The Los Angeles Regional Consortium’s Round 9 Regional Engagement Session provides prospective applicants with region-specific RFA guidance, application-development support, and information about available technical assistance. The session is designed for K–12 educators and administrators, community college partners, fiscal and grants staff, and regional collaborators supporting K–14 CTE pathways.

Highlights:

Round 9 RFA Overview
Application and Scoring Guidance
Los Angeles Regional Priorities and Labor-market Alignment
Grant-Writing and Fiscal Support
LARC resources and office hours.

Who Should Attend?

K12 educators and administrators
Community college partner representatives
Fiscal and grant staff
CTE, pathway, work-based learning, and dual-enrollment leaders.

RFA Guidance and Award Notices

Applicants should use only the official Round 9 RFA, templates, examples, and scoring rubrics. Prior-round materials should remain on their archive pages and should not be presented as Round 9 application forms.

Application Tools and Templates

Recordings and Guidance

Awards Notices (to be announced)

Round 9 Preliminary Award Memo (to be announced)
Round 9 Intent to Award Memo (to be announced)

Additional Resources

K–12 Pathway Coordinator support

K–12 Pathway Coordinators can facilitate connections between colleges and K–12 LEAs; clarify the RFA; share labor-market information; assist with CTE and dual-enrollment data analysis; support K–14 pathway mapping; connect applicants with promising practices and sample resources; and review alignment between the application and scoring rubric.

Workshops and Office Hours

LARC Round 9 Regional Engagement Session
- 9/2/2026
- Recording Link
- Presentation Slides
Grant Writing Workshop
- 9/8/2026
- Registration Link
Fiscal Workshop Part 1: Fiscal Fundamentals & Compliance
- 9/14/2026
- Registration Link
Fiscal Workshop Part 2: Budget Development & Grant Management
- 9/21/2026
- Registration Link
Round 9 RFA Office Hours
- Registration Link
K12 SWP NOVA Training
- View Recorded Training
K12 SWP NOVA Training
- Resource Link

Questions and Support

For application-development support, contact the K–12 Pathway Coordinator assigned to your community college service area. Written questions about the state RFA must be submitted to K12SWP@CCCCO.edu by 5:00 p.m. on September 11, 2026. After that deadline, the Chancellor’s Office will respond only to technical questions about NOVA access and logistics.