Chandler Unified School District officials have announced its high school career and technical education program in semiconductor manufacturing is officially underway.

More than 50 students already enrolled in the first year of the program, a news release states.

Currently housed at Hamilton High School, the semiconductor program provides hands-on training, practical skills, and industry connections, the release states.

CUSD states it plans to set the standard for preparing the next generation of Arizona’s semiconductor workforce, according to the release, calling the two-year program the first of its kind, with hopes it can eventually be duplicated or expanded statewide and nationally.

The two-year program is offered in partnership with the University of Arizona and the East Valley Institute of Technology to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the semiconductor industry, particularly in the East Valley and across Arizona.

Semiconductors — vital components powering countless technological innovations — have become a cornerstone of Arizona’s economic growth, the release claims.

The initiative unites universities, community colleges, and industry partner companies, such as “Arm,” Cactus Materials, Cirrus Logic, Edwards Vacuum, Intel, Lawrence Semiconductor, NXP, Microchip Technology, and Teradyne, to deliver a hands-on, industry-informed curriculum that prepares students for success in specific tech careers, the release states.

To learn more about CUSD’s semiconductor program, click here.

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