COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 01

February 3, 2004

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Distribution of Free Student Guides to Life After High School: r u ready? (4^th ed.)

We are pleased to announce that the new, updated version of the student guide to career and continuing education will be shipped to your guidance department for distribution to all students enrolled in the junior class. Expected delivery is early February from Virginia Business Magazine, the developer of this project in cooperation with the Department of Education. This edition of r u ready? provides the latest information on career and continuing education opportunities. It is particularly appealing to youth and is recommended as an excellent resource in preparing students for life after high school and in reinforcing selected Standards of Learning. A special feature is a letter from Governor Warner, endorsing this publication and emphasizing the need for planning and sound decision making.

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.

Superintendents and guidance personnel are also being notified of the availability of this student guide, as well as other products in the get ready series. As you may know, the series also includes a teachers guide, ready or not, a parents brochure, Call to Action, and Virginia Career Resource Network (VACRN) posters. Contact information concerning all products is being provided to guidance specialists, including how to obtain additional copies of all resources for students other than those enrolled in the junior class. The updated parents brochure will be available later during this school year. The updated teachers guide may be ordered from the Career and Technical Education Resource Center.

Please encourage your staff to present r u ready? formally to students rather than just distributing copies to them. This may 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.

For additional information, please confer with your guidance department or contact Dr. Jan L. Harris (jharris1@mail.vak12ed.edu), career connections specialist, office of career and technical education services, at 804/225-3370. We hope that the student guide and other products in the series will supplement and enhance your instructional and guidance programs.

PIW/JAG/jts