NVUSD Awarded Over $1.4 Million in Grants to Expand College and Career Readiness

NVUSD Communications

Jul 31 2026

The Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded over $1.4 million in grant funding to enhance its Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and prepare high school students for high-demand, high-wage careers.

The funding includes a $1.33 million Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP) implementaNapa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) students demonstrated notable academic progress on the Spring 2026 state assessments (CAASPP and CAST), highlighted by district-wide gains in mathematics and science proficiency. These preliminary results validate the effectiveness of NVUSD’s targeted instructional framework while providing valuable data as NVUSD continues to sharpen its ongoing professional development initiatives, including LETRS and High Impact Instructional Teams (HIIT).tion grant alongside a $100,000 Perkins V CTE grant, both aimed at expanding real-world, career-aligned learning across the district.

The three-year $1.33 million Golden State Pathways grant, administered by the California Department of Education, provides local educational agencies with resources to build seamless pipelines from high school to postsecondary education and regional workforces. The GSPP award provides restricted funding dedicated solely to expanding college and career readiness opportunities. These funds will support the development and launch of innovative new career pathways across five NVUSD high schools:

American Canyon High School: Health Science
Napa High School: Health Science & International Business
New Technology High School: Principles of Engineering
Valley Oak High School: Culinary Arts
Vintage High School: Agricultural Viticulture

Grant funds may only be used for the purposes outlined in the grant, including creating programs that prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers. This initiative directly advances NVUSD’s five-year Strategic Plan (Strategy 2) to build systemic, real-world learning opportunities for all students.

In addition to the GSPP award, NVUSD secured $100,000 through the federal Perkins V framework, designed to allow every student to earn industry-related credentials and certifications. The Perkins grant will provide foundational support across all 12 existing CTE pathways throughout the district.

Combined, the funding from both grants will directly impact students and classrooms by allowing NVUSD to:

Upgrade CTE classrooms and labs with modern equipment and materials that reflect current workforce standards.
Provide specialized professional development to keep teachers connected to crucial, evolving industry sectors.
Offer students immersive, hands-on experiences, including industry field trips and job shadowing.

"These grant awards represent a major investment in our students' futures," shared NVUSD Superintendent Dr. Rosanna Mucetti. "By connecting classroom instruction with workforce needs, locally, nationally, and worldwide, we are ensuring our graduates leave NVUSD with the academic foundation, skills, and practical experience required to thrive no matter what path they choose."

“Supporting our students as they build a strong foundation for their future is rewarding, " said Career and College Readiness Director Mario Landeros. “These funds will help us continue to do this important work.”

“Expanding college and career pathways is a top priority for our Board of Education, as outlined in our 2026-2027 Board Annual Priorities,” shared NVUSD Board of Education President Dr. Lisa Chu. “Through our Annual Priorities, we show our commitment to supporting programs and initiatives that provide our students with the real-world skills, academic foundation, and confidence needed for future success. Grants allow us to take that work one step further.”

“This funding is essential for the long-term viability of our programs,” said College and Career Readiness Coordinator Danielle Molinari. “We want to ensure all of our Career Technical Education offerings remain well-funded, sustainable, and capable of providing opportunities for all students.”