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The Anaheim Union High School District is partnering with Google to offer students career certificates in data analytics, IT support and project management, district officials announced Wednesday. This collaboration is the first of its kind in the nation.
No prior experience is needed for the students to take Google’s online certification programs, which aim to prepare students for entry-level roles in fields that are projected to grow over the next 10 years. They are created and taught by Google employees.
“We feel that these are important, transformative courses that allow a student to have hands-on, applied skills, which are needed in the workforce,” Superintendent Michael Matsuda said. “We’re very grateful to Google for allowing us to be the first in the country to have this partnership.”
Teachers have been preparing for months to include these career programs in their lesson plans, Matsuda said. They’ll be integrated into preexisting courses, and students will work toward their certificates during the school day.
This year, 300 to 500 students out of the Anaheim Union High School District’s 30,000 are expected to take courses featuring the certification programs, to which Google is providing the district free access. Some faculty members even plan on earning certificates themselves, Matsuda said.
“As stackable credentials, the certificates can be credited toward a four-year degree at select colleges and universities, and are available in 100 community colleges in the U.S. Graduates can also submit their resume to an employer consortium of over 130 companies,” officials said in a press release.
The salary in the United States for an entry-level data analytics job is $67,900 and it is $50,800 for a beginning career in IT support, they said.
Anaheim Union is “the first of many” high school districts Google plans to work with on its certificate programs, spokesman Michael Appel said in an email. More than 21,800 Californians have enrolled in Google’s career programs online and through local community colleges.
“Google has called California home for over 20 years, and our investments in the local community include providing access to digital skills and workforce training,” Appel said. “As one of the largest school districts in the state, AUHSD was a natural district to launch the certificate program in public high schools.”
Courses are currently limited to certain campuses within the district – which serves residents of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma and Stanton – but Matsuda said he intends to expand the partnership to include more students in upcoming years.
“There’s lots of excitement and anticipation,” he said. “We think it’s going to be very high interest.”
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