TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Gov. Sam Brownback is promoting a new state program that encourages high school students to get technical training for jobs in industries that need skilled workers.

The Lawrence Journal World reports (http://bit.ly/Oqn57C ) Brownback visited the Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka on Thursday to publicize the $20 million program created this year.

The program covers tuition for high school juniors and seniors taking certain courses at Kansas technical and community colleges. It will also pay public school districts $1,000 for each student who obtains a technical certificate for a high-need occupation.

Those occupations include carpenters, electricians, computer specialists, cement masons and bus and truck mechanics.