COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 26

January 30, 2004

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Distribution of Free Student Guides to Life After High School: r u ready? (4^th ed.)

We are pleased to notify you that the new, updated: r u ready? (4th ed.) magazine will be sent in early February to guidance specialists in all Virginia public high schools. We are asking guidance specialists to distribute the magazine to all students enrolled in the junior class. Principals and guidance personnel will be notified prior to the distribution of the magazine.

This publication is closely linked to Governor Mark Warners Education for a Lifetime efforts. The governors initiative emphasizes that the keys to educational and career success involves each students making the right career choices whether the choices are to enter the job market following high school or continuing formal education.

This edition of r u ready?, which should appeal to teenagers, will provide sound, up-to-date information about the importance of making wise decisions about careers and continuing education. The publication includes a letter of endorsement from Governor Warner emphasizing the need to plan now for life after high school. The primary message the guide provides to students is that the next stage of life happens whether you are ready or not. The publication was developed by Virginia Business Magazine, an affiliate of Media General, in cooperation with the Department of Education.

We are requesting that r u ready? be presented formally to students rather than just distributing copies to them. This could be accomplished through an academic or career and technical education course or by offering instruction as an extracurricular activity in cooperation with business/industry and continuing education partners. Both the student and teacher guides reinforce selected Standards of Learning.

As you may know, r u ready? is part of a series, including the teachers guide ready or not, a parents brochure, and the Virginia Career Resource Network (VACRN) posters. The updated parents brochure will be delivered later during this school year. Principals and guidance personnel are being notified how to obtain additional copies of all these resources, including requested copies for students other than high school juniors.

Please contact Dr. Jan L. Harris (jharris@mail.vak12ed.edu), career connections specialist, office of career and technical education services, at 804/225-3370 for additional information concerning any of the products in the series. We hope that this information will help you and your staff prepare your students for life after high school.

JLD/JAG/jts