CENTER VALLEY, PA – Pennsylvania high school students looking for a career in health care are getting a boost in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 proposed budget, which calls for doubling the amount of money the state invests each year to $7 million for the Schools-to-Work initiative, helping to bridge classroom learning with real-world opportunity and align training with in-demand industries and workforce needs across the Commonwealth.
Today, at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) — part of Jefferson Health —Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker highlighted the Governor’s proposal to double funding for Schools-to-Work, empowering more young Pennsylvanians with the tools they need to chart their own course.
“Schools-to-Work is about helping students see what is possible for their future and giving them the support, training, and connections to get there,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “Through LVHN’s Health Care Futures, students are gaining exposure to real opportunities in their own community and learning about the many pathways available in health care. That matters for students, for families, and for employers who need skilled, prepared workers to meet the needs of the people they serve.”
During the visit, Secretary Walker met with LVHN leadership and Health Care Futures program participants at the Center for Healthcare Education in Center Valley. The visit highlighted how LVHN is using Schools-to-Work funding to expand career exposure, strengthen job placement support, and build clearer pathways into high-demand health care occupations for students in the Lehigh Valley.
In March 2026, the Shapiro Administration announced more than $4.1 million in Schools-to-Work grant investments for 17 projects statewide. LVHN received $250,000 to expand its Health Care Futures program in partnership with the Allentown School District’s Bridgeview Academy of Health, Science, Innovation and Technology, a new high school for students interested in health care careers.
Through the grant, LVHN will enhance Health Care Futures’ existing career exposure and job placement support for in-demand health care occupations like medical assistants and nursing assistants.
Governor Shapiro is committed to building a stronger workforce and expanding opportunities for young Pennsylvanians in every part of the Commonwealth. Since January 2023, Schools-to-Work funding has supported 52 programs statewide and 2,295 students with hands-on training, classroom instruction, mentorship, and direct connections to employment and apprenticeship opportunities.
As the Governor looks to build upon these historic investments, his 2026-27 budget calls for:
- An additional $18 million for vo-tech, career and technical education (CTE), and apprenticeship programs;
- A $3.5 million investment to reach $7 million total for Schools-to-Work to bridge classroom learning with real-world opportunity and align training with in-demand industries and workforce needs across the Commonwealth;
- $6.3 million to continue building a stronger, more resilient workforce through the Industry Partnership program, which brings together regional business leaders within one industry and public partners to address shared workforce needs; and
- Increasing state funding for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) by $1 million to help Pennsylvanians with disabilities find and keep employment.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
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