Our WorkWorkforce DevelopmentIncreasing Opportunities for Apprenticeships, Internships, and Skill-BuildingStudent Training & Employment Program (STEP)

Student Training & Employment Program (STEP)

Workforce Development | Student-Focused | Mission Aligned

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and FoundationCCC coordinate the Student Training & Employment Program (STEP) to provide work experience and job preparation training for student with disabilities.

Established in 2018, STEP funds work readiness and paid work experiences, encourages local partnerships, and serves students statewide.

Respondent Eligibility

Local Workforce Development Boards and America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC) seeking to increase services provided to students with disabilities can apply. The project will provide job preparation training, including job exploration, workplace readiness skills training, and work-based learning experiences, as well as summer work experience to students with disabilities.

Proposal Requirements

  • Only one proposal will be accepted from each local workforce board or AJCC.
  • Each respondent must identify businesses committed to engaging with students with disabilities and provide a clear strategy to partner with these employers to provide work experience.
  • Respondents must demonstrate a workplace readiness training program ready to be implemented at their location.

Participant Requirements

  • Only one proposal will be accepted from each local workforce board or AJCC.
  • Each respondent must identify businesses committed to engaging with students with disabilities and provide a clear strategy to partner with these employers to provide work experience.
  • Respondents must demonstrate a workplace readiness training program ready to be implemented at their location.

Funding Opportunities

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), in coordination with the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC), announces the availability of up to $18,000,000 in federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title IV Vocational Rehabilitation funds to design, develop, and implement projects that provide work experience and job preparation training for students with disabilities.

Learn more about this funding opportunity

FoundationCCC | Career Catalyst

FoundationCCC oversees the application, and contracting process, and distributes contract funds for the Solicitation for Proposal. It also serves as the official employer of record for all paid work experience through Career Catalyst. Grantees also have access to a network of peer grantees, support from DOR, and comprehensive training on Career Catalyst services and tools.

Program Impact

  • 1,600+ students

    have engaged in paid work experiences.

  • 13 workforce development boards

    participating in providing students with work experiences.

Story of Impact

Arlitha H. (Mother of Clarence H.)

“The key pieces of Clarence’s success in education, work, and life as a student with disabilities (SWD) is a combination of support from family, K-12 and Pathways programs, DOR STEPS work experience, vocational rehab, and community college courses…With his first paid work experience, Clarence not only had the opportunity to practice fiscal management of his STEPS earnings, but invested some of the earnings into a college textbook–a true investment in himself, his education, and his future.”