The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education has awarded more than $4.76 million in lottery funds.

CareerTech awarded 26 grants worth a total of $2,119,494 to 22 technology centers for the 2023-24 school year and 162 grants worth a total of $2,209,569 in grants to K-12 school districts for the 2023-24 school year, along with 408 scholarships worth a total of $437,081.99 for the 2022-23 school year.

“These funds from the Oklahoma Lottery will benefit instructors and students throughout the CareerTech System and help us fulfill our mission to give students the skills they need to enter the workforce and make informed career choices,” said CareerTech State Director Brent Haken. “Through the competitive grant process, there is a direct investment in classroom and training experiences, including new equipment, technology and enhanced instructional resources. We must train students on relevant equipment that will be used in Oklahoma businesses so that Oklahomans are workforce ready.”

Technology centers receiving grants will invest in a wide range of equipment, including for programs in firefighting and EMT; welding; law enforcement; health careers; workforce development; robotics; drones; aviation maintenance; engineering; and hospitality and food services.

The K-12 districts receiving grants will use them for classroom resources including laptops and other computer equipment; welders; computer-aided drafting equipment; cameras and other photography and video equipment; greenhouse equipment; agricultural education simulators; animal science equipment; 3D printers; commercial kitchen equipment; commercial sewing equipment; flight simulators; and CNC machines.

Oklahoma CareerTech receives about 5 percent of the Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund, which it uses to help CareerTech programs upgrade equipment and to provide scholarships to educators to continue their own education to fulfill CareerTech teacher certification and credential requirements.

Oklahoma CareerTech starts each year’s grant process only after it receives the lottery funds. CareerTech sixth through 12th grade programs and technology centers submit grant proposals that include their plans for using the funds to innovate and positively affect students.