Strategic Review and Visioning for
Virginia Career and Technical Education
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This spring, the Virginia Department of Education1 has hosted regional focus groups across the state as part of the Strategic Review and Visioning for Virginia Career and Technical Education. This project will help clarify how CTE can further transform the high school experience for Virginia’s youth and launch them toward a positive and purposeful future. The vision is that every student will be fully engaged in learning and will develop personal goals to connect personal interests with academic opportunities and career options to make a positive contribution to family, community, and world.
Virginia has been taking significant actions in recent years to strengthen the quality of its secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs so that they support the highest possible levels of local success and results for students:
- In 2006, the Virginia Department of Education began restructuring CTE around 16 nationally-recognized Career Clusters and 79 Career Pathways. From this foundation, local school divisions have begun developing Plans of Study for students to use in developing their academic and career plans. In 2008, the Department of Education established its strategy for implementing the new federal law and funding for Career and Technical Education (the Perkins Act).
- In 2008, Governor Timothy Kaine asked the Virginia Board of Education to implement an Academic and Career Plan to begin with all seventh graders. This plan was approved by the Board of Education in February 2009 for implementation in the 2010/2011 school year.
- Virginia is also part of a national initiative called the American Diploma Project, a coalition of 34 states working to implement strategies that ensure all students will be fully prepared with the academic knowledge and skills required for college-level studies and skilled employment. In this context, Virginia is ready to embrace an ambitious vision for the positive impact that CTE can have on students and the general citizenry.
To document the specific policies, resources, and practices needed to make this vision a reality, the Strategic Review of CTE will provide a detailed analysis of Virginia’s existing policies and programs and provide recommendations on how its CTE programs can meet demands to better prepare students for further education, responsible citizenship, and meaningful and productive employment. During the course of the research, program practices in Virginia and across the nation will be evaluated to identify optimal measures for CTE program delivery that address these concerns.
In order to meet the substantial goals of this project and to develop a sound long-range plan for CTE in Virginia, a series of research activities is being undertaken this year. All of these activities give Virginians the chance to provide input on what best defines the role of CTE in Virginia’s schools and communities:
- Interviews have already been conducted with key state staff and leaders to obtain their feedback on the strengths and future direction of CTE programs.
- Eight days of focus group meetings, one in each of the eight educational regions, have solicited the input of key constituents throughout the state,
- An online survey of education stakeholders (school staff, school administrators, business leaders, postsecondary partners, students and parents) across the state is currently in progress as another means by which to obtain extensive feedback on CTE programs and policies.
- Still ahead is the project team's thorough analysis, including on-site visits of cross-state programs to identify promising practices relevant for Virginia as it moves toward its long-term goals and vision.
To support the effort, Virginia has selected the Meeder Consulting Group, an education policy analysis and research firm headed by Hans Meeder, former official at the U.S. Department of Education. The Meeder Consulting Group has extensive experience with high school reform, career and technical education, and postsecondary workforce issues through its work with states and organizations nationwide.
Ultimately, this project will produce a refreshing new vision for Career and Technical Education programs in Virginia—one that highlights the valuable role CTE plays in ensuring the educational and economic success of Virginia’s students and its citizens.
This vision will be summarized in a thorough report (to be released in summer 2009) and a quick-read executive summary, as well as a Web site with resources and user guides to help schools and districts ready to move their programs to the next level of effectiveness.
For more information about the program contact:
Peggy Watson, CTE Resource Center
Email: mlwatson@cteresource.org
Phone: (804) 673-3778
Mail: 2002 Bremo Rd, Richmond, VA 23226
