Needham High School students will gain access to at least 80 new internship and job-shadowing spots under a $50,000 program funded by the Needham Education Foundation.

The program, called the Liftoff Network, pairs students with local businesses and organizations for hands-on work experiences. The Needham School Committee approved the grant 6-0 at its May 19 meeting, and the NEF formally announced the initiative on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The $50,000 covers a part-time internship coordinator for the 2026-2027 school year. Katy Clayton, an NHS English teacher, has taken on the role at 0.6 full-time equivalent. Her job this year is to consolidate existing work-experience offerings and recruit new business partners before students register during course selection in March.

The vote was unanimous.

Student placements begin in the 2027-2028 school year. Needham Public Schools plans to absorb the coordinator's salary into its own budget by 2029-2030, making the position permanent without continued NEF funding.

"We welcome the community's help in building the relationships needed to bring this program fully to life," Principal Aaron Sicotte said in the NEF announcement. He said the Liftoff Network will complement classroom learning with real-world experience in fields including business, nonprofits and trades.

NEF board members Dan Levine and Marissa Traeger described the grant as a collaborative initiative, a funding category the foundation reserves for launching new district programs. Past examples include the Greater Boston Project interdisciplinary course at NHS and equity-based professional development for teachers and administrators.

The NEF, which has partnered with Needham Public Schools for 36 years, contributes roughly $100,000 annually across all grade levels, according to Needham Local.

Needham High enrolls about 1,633 students in grades 9 through 12. The program aims to expand equity and access to work experiences for students across a wide range of interests.

Local businesses and organizations interested in hosting a student can contact Clayton at [email protected]. Students will sign up through March course registration, with the first cohort starting placements in the 2027-2028 school year.