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Career and Technical Education—
Learning That Works For Virginia
The Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education’s (VACTE) primary goal
is to advocate and expand career and technical education (CTE) and promote rigorous
program while integrating academic and technical skills.
CTE prepares students for jobs in Virginia that are forecast to grow the fastest in the
coming years, many of which require postsecondary education or training. Therefore, it
is critical that high school graduates leave with not only academic knowledge but also
the technical skills needed to continue their learning and ensure choices for their future.
Virginia has become a leader in preparing high school students for the workforce by
ensuring they are career ready and college ready. High-quality CTE programs prepare
students to be college ready by engaging them in high school, which lowers their risk
of dropping out, and integrating academics with technical skills to improve student
performance.
CTE programs assist students to stay motivated by connecting education to careers
with a focus on real-world problem solving. In addition to providing academic
and technical skills, CTE helps students develop employability skills crucial to the
workplace. This forms the foundation of career readiness and is often developed
through cooperation with industry.
So, how do we ensure that CTE continues to play a vital role in developing a well-
educated workforce that supports productivity and innovation in Virginia’s job market?
With policymakers and stakeholders, it is crucial to be an advocate for the importance
of CTE and the integral role it has in public education. Funding for CTE equipment is
critical, so that classrooms and labs can demonstrate and apply the skills required in
workforce using 21st century tools, not 19th century machinery. Business and industry
partners have to be confident that CTE programs address the skill gaps and prepare a
competitive and qualified workforce.
Funding for credentialing assessments is required, not only to meet new graduation
requirements but to provide external examinations that are nationally recognized by
industry. These credentials provide students an advantage in being career ready and
college ready and test essential employability and technical skills, which enhance their
career pathway goals.
The Virginia Board of Education has approved more than 350 credentials, which
are available in the 16 Career Clusters. During the 2011-2012 school year, 51,192
students earned credentials.
As of July 2013, there are 22 Governor’s STEM Academies, which are designed to
offer rigorous academic and CTE options for students to acquire literacy in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while earning industry credentials.
Also, eight Health Sciences Academies are expected to be open for the 2013-2014
school year and represent a partnership between public school divisions, healthcare
institutions, the private sector and institutions of higher education to create rigorous
programs to prepare students for careers in health science. Funding for these and
future academies address the need of Virginia’s future workforce.
Through these efforts, policymakers must realize that CTE today is not the CTE they
may have experienced during their high school careers. Most of all, CTE provides
an avenue for all students, regardless of their career pathway and goals. As parents,
we want our students to become gainfully employed and to be qualified to work
in a competitive and global economy at whatever point they enter the workforce.
Some will enter that arena immediately after high school, after postsecondary
education (a one-year or two-year certificate program or an associate degree), or at
the baccalaureate level. At whatever point, CTE can provide a strong and challenging
foundation to get there.
You cannot influence the conversation if you choose not to be an advocate for
CTE. That is the goal of VACTE: to be a part of the conversation with our state
policymakers.
Let’s educate our policymakers and get their support for the integral role CTE plays in
public education to better prepare Virginia’s workforce.
Brenda D. Long, Ed. D.
Executive Director • VA Assoc. for Career and Technical Education •
