COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 208
October 14, 2005
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Path to Industry
Certification |
The
Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Community College System look
forward to working with each of Virginia’s public schools and community
colleges in launching the statewide Path
to Industry Certification program. Path to Industry Certification targets
juniors and seniors who have no postsecondary plans and have not already earned
an industry certification or state license.
Participating students must work toward a high school diploma while
pursuing technical training for a selected industry certification or state
license. This technical preparation may
continue after high school graduation through community college technical
training that will lead to a student-selected industry certification. Subject to the availability of funds, the
student’s tuition, applicable community college fees, textbook costs, and
certification exam fees will be paid by this program.
Participating
students and their parents sign a Path to
Industry Certification compact agreeing that the student will earn a
standard or advanced studies diploma and complete high school and/or community
college technical training to acquire the appropriate skills and certification
needed to enter a higher-wage career.
Additional information on Path to Industry Certification can be found at
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/CTE/certification/.
Path to Industry
Certification
was piloted in 2003-04 in four community college regions and was expanded to
eleven community college regions during the 2004-05 school year.
Every
school division may now participate by promoting the program and identifying
students who could benefit from this opportunity. In order to participate and receive additional information,
please designate a program coordinator (preferably the school division guidance
director or CTE director) and agree to provide appropriate staff to support
this initiative by completing and faxing the attached participation agreement
by October 31, 2005. Because of
retirements and personnel changes, please submit a participation agreement with
a coordinator’s name even if your school division participated in the pilot for
2005 high school graduates. Regional
meetings will be scheduled once school division coordinators have been
identified.
If
you have questions, contact Connie Williams, the CTE project coordinator, at
(804) 371-0196 or Connie.Williams@doe.virginia.gov.
JLD/CEW
Attachment
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2005/inf208a.doc