Through the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, Michigan was awarded $48 million over five years to support national and state school reform and workforce development efforts. The three core components of this system were:

• Work-based learning
• School-based learning
• Connecting activities, which assure coordination between the work-based and school-based learning.

In June of 1999, Michigan applied for federal supplemental School-to-Work funds to the U.S. Department of labor, seeking more than $2 million in supplemental School-to-Work funds to sustain Michigan’s School-to-Work system and support the state’s transition to the Career Preparation System.

The Career Preparation System was created to bring about true systemic change in education and build upon existing School-to-Work objectives.

During the first year (2000-2001) of the Career Preparation initiative, the following three (3) schools were awarded Career Pathways funding:

• Charlotte Public Schools in Eaton County
• Ovid-Elsie Area Schools in Clinton County
• Williamston Community Schools in Ingham County

In 2001-2002, Eaton Rapids, Fowler, Grand Ledge, Stockbridge, Waverly and Webberville Public Schools became Pathways Districts.

Grants for 2002-2003 were awarded to Dansville, East Lansing, Haslett, Holt, Lansing, Leslie, Maple Valley, Mason, Okemos, and St. Johns Public Schools and Walter French Academy.