On Oct. 7, the Committee visited McKinley High School in Buffalo, NY to learn more about the trade programs available for students in the public school system.
"Any opportunities that we have with education is key to show the kids that it's okay to be smart, it's okay to learn, it's okay to aspire, to achieve great things as far as trades, history, math, science, becoming an engineer or anything," Ingram said. "Anything that they put their mind to, they can do it; and so I'm always down for education and I'm always advocating for kids too."
In Buffalo, there are no designated, public vocational schools for high school students. Trade schools can cost families up to $10,000 to attend per year. While financial aid and scholarships are available, trade and training programs are not readily available for families at a financial disadvantage. The Buffalo Public School system, however, aims to provide Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities through programs and electives.
At McKinley, minorities make up 90 percent of enrolled students and 91 percent of students are financially disadvantaged. CTE programs and electives are prioritized alongside standard high school curriculum. The school also assist students financially who plan to enroll in a college, trade school or law, firefighter or medical program after high school graduation through access to scholarships.