For Immediate Release – June 27, 2013
Office of the Governor
Contact: Paul Shanks
Phone: (804) 225-4262
Email: Paul.Shanks@Governor.Virginia.Gov
Virginia Department of Education
Contact: Charles B. Pyle
Phone: (804) 371-2420
Email: Charles.Pyle@doe.virginia.gov
Governor McDonnell Announces Approval of Eighth Governor's Health Science Academy
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the approval by the state Board of Education of the Commonwealth’s eighth Governor’s Health Sciences Academy.
The Gloucester County Public Schools and Mathews County Public Schools Governor’s Health Sciences Academy will enroll up to 100 students in classes offered at both counties’ high schools. Students will participate in workplace-learning experiences made possible through partnerships with Riverside School of Health Careers and Riverside Walter Reed Hospital.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell remarked, “This health sciences academy – and the seven others approved earlier this year – will prepare our young people to take advantage of the thousands of high-demand, high-skill and high-wage career opportunities that will be created during the coming years in this rapidly growing sector of Virginia’s economy.”
The new academy on the Middle Peninsula and the seven previously approved programs were established with the support of eight $10 thousand planning grants proposed by McDonnell and approved by the 2012 General Assembly. Each academy represents 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 the health sciences.
The previously approved Governor’s Health Sciences Academies are as follows:
- Albemarle County – Monticello Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at Monticello High
- Chesterfield County – Chesterfield County Public Schools Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at Chesterfield Technical Center, Cosby High and Monacan High
- Cumberland County – Superintendents’ Region 8 Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at all Region 8 high schools and Southside Community College
- Fairfax County – Falls Church Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at Falls Church High
- Fairfax County — West Potomac Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at West Potomac High
- Hampton – Hampton City Public Schools Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at Bethel High
- Newport News and York County – Newport News Public Schools and York County Public Schools Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, classes at Warwick High in Newport News and Bruton High in York County
“The Board of Education looked closely at each of these programs and is confident that these academies will broaden learning opportunities for Virginia students while helping to meet the future work force needs of the health care industry,” Board of Education President David M. Foster said.
All eight Governor’s Health Sciences Academies are expected to be open for the 2013-2014 school year.
The Board of Education today also approved proposals from Fairfax County, Harrisonburg and Montgomery County to establish Governor’s STEM Academies offering rigorous academic and career and technical education programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (subjects known collectively as “STEM”).
The three new academies bring the number of state-approved STEM programs to 22. There were eight STEM academies when McDonnell took office in 2010 with a promise to double the number of programs by the end of his term in January 2014. The governor’s goal was met last October with the Board of Education’s approval of Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy.
Governor's STEM Academies are designed to expand options for students to acquire literacy in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while earning industry credentials.
###
View VDOE's Expenses