A four school district partnership aiming to create a manufacturing career pathway for high school students recently received a $151,500 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia.

The districts — West Muskingum Local Schools, Crooksville Exempted Village Schools, Noble Local Schools and Cambridge City Schools — have also partnered with three educational entities — Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center, Mid-East Career and Technology Centers and Ohio Valley Educational Service Center — in an effort to bring the pilot program to local high school students.

“This group’s goal is to create a manufacturing pathway within high school course offerings to provide at least 120 local high school students with the opportunity to earn the nationally recognized Manufacturing Skills Standard Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician credential and work-based learning experience in the manufacturing field,” a media release from Muskingum Valley ESC states.

Students involved with the MSSC material would gain hands-on experience with Amatrol SkillsBoss technology, earn an accepted 12-point credential on the state’s graduation option list, attend field trips and job shadowing opportunities, as well as graduate from high school with an “electronic work portfolio.”

Students that earn the MSSC Certified Production Technician credential would demonstrate extensive knowledge of the main aspects of front-line production manufacturing that would be acquired through certification assessments.

The main goal of the program is to increase knowledge and performance levels within production work to help younger people locate higher-paying jobs and provide future employers with more productivity for their companies.