Santee School District has received a $215,000 grant to launch a new career technical education program for seventh and eighth graders, according to Patch. District officials said the program is designed to give students early exposure to high-demand career fields through hands-on learning.

The first 12-week elective, Digital Media, is scheduled to begin in fall 2026. Patch reported the class is being developed in collaboration with teachers from the Grossmont Union High School District.

Additional electives in Health Science, focused on sports medicine, and Information and Communication Technologies are planned for the 2027-28 school year. District officials said the programs were selected to align with county-identified labor shortages while expanding elective options.

Dan Prouty, who has served in multiple leadership roles in the district, was named manager of the new program. The district said the elective rotation is planned for seventh and eighth grade students at all K-8 schools.

Source: Patch, citing Santee School District announcements.