Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced an award from the U.S. Department of Education for Education Alliance in Charleston, W.Va.

This award, secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request made by Senator Capito in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), will help Education Alliance launch a rural branch of the Toyota-sponsored 4T Academy in Mason County Public Schools.

“Last year, I had the chance to visit with students of the 4T High School Work Program at Toyota’s Buffalo facility, and it’s clear how instrumental the program has been in connecting students with career opportunities in advanced manufacturing. I was proud to use my position as Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee to advocate for and secure this award to help open more career pathways for our future workers. By partnering with Education Alliance and Toyota, this funding will bring the 4T Academy to Mason County and provide more career prospects for rural students and families,” Ranking Member Capito said.

Award details listed below:

$400,070 Education CDS award to the Education Alliance (Charleston, W.Va.) to launch the 4T Academy in Mason County Schools and support simulated workplace equipment and training that removes barriers and increases access to career pathways for underserved rural youth. The funds will provide simulated workplace equipment and training to innovate evidence-based strategies of quality work-based learning and mentoring for rural students. The resulting 4T Academy will improve education by reducing barriers and increasing access to career pathways for underserved rural youth. In 2022-23, Toyota West Virginia launched the 4T Academy in Kanawha County Schools. In 2024-25, Education Alliance will significantly improve education opportunities by advancing the 4T model to a rural community to achieve targeted innovations.