Boston Public Schools receive $25m from GE to build career pipelines for students

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Public Schools Committee Chair Michael O’Neill attended General Electric’s (GE) celebration, which detailed their relocation to Boston and future investments. GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt announced that GE will invest $25 million in Boston Public Schools.

“This investment into the future of the City of Boston is going prepare our children to be the leaders and innovators of the world,” Walsh said. “We’re thrilled that GE has committed itself to being a strong partner of Boston Public Schools. We look forward to seeing the many positive results of this work.”

GE Foundation will commit $25 million to Boston Public Schools to help students explore college and career possibilities and understand the skills necessary for future jobs. GE will reach 100 percent of Boston Public Schools high school students each year through career labs, computer science courses, and will provide educators the tools they need to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow.

BPS said in a statement, “Across the country, less than 50 percent of U.S. high school graduates are prepared for college-level math, and we want our students to be ready–and every bit helps. GE will be working to empower all BPS high school students to become globally productive citizens and will assist in creating Boston Public School system as a Model of Excellence at the crossroads of education and STEM careers, by providing opportunities for BPS students to further their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” They will provide:

Computer Science for All – The GE Foundation will focus on working with Boston Public School district to create a systemic and sustainable plan and to ensure that Computer Science is part of a student’s schedule across all high schools.

GE Brilliant Career Labs – The GE Foundation will also create “GE Brilliant Career Labs” with both physical and virtual locations to allow students a unique hands-on experience with advanced technology and software to assist them with career planning and internships.

“I look forward to partnering with the GE Foundation to further support our students and strengthen our schools,” Chang said. “I am grateful that this investment aligns with our belief that our students are Boston’s future leaders, workers, and innovators.”

This contribution will provide students the opportunity to explore college and career possibilities, and to understand the skills necessary for future employment.

“We are looking forward to assisting Boston Public Schools in making great strides for its high school students. I had the pleasure of working with a group of students from Boston high schools here earlier this month,” said Kelli Wells, executive director of Education and Skills at the GE Foundation. “Their visions of innovation and what the future can bring for them were inspiring. They created a video of our two-day innovation experience. A short version of it is available on Boston Public Schools website. The students are ready to get down to the business of college and career planning and delving into STEM courses. It is an honor for the GE Foundation to help.”

Additionally, GE will assist STEM high school teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators, to better prepare students for college and their future careers.

“In a city with a rich history of civic and corporate involvement in the public school system, our nation’s first, we are delighted to welcome the time, talent and generosity of GE and its foundation,” said Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O’Neill. “We appreciate their deep interest in partnering with the Boston Public Schools’ leadership to understand our current challenges and create expanded opportunities to help our students succeed in the growing innovation economy of this city that we all love.”

GE announced in January it selected Boston for its corporate headquarters. The new site, located in Boston’s Seaport District, will be home to 800 GE employees; 200 from corporate leadership and 600 digital industrial product managers, designers and developers split between GE Digital, Current, robotics and Life Sciences.