COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 43
February 29, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
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TO:
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Division
Superintendents
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FROM:
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Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr.
Superintendent
of Public Instruction
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SUBJECT:
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Governor's
Career and Technical
Academies
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On
November 29, 2007, the Virginia Board of Education approved the criteria to
establish Governor's Career and Technical
Academies. These academies may be proposed only by
partnerships that include business and industry, public school divisions, and
higher education institutions. They may
also include local government, including workforce and economic development
entities.
Governor's
Career and Technical
Academies have as their
goals:
- To maximize
opportunities in preparing students for targeted careers, by breaking down
barriers between traditional core academics and career and technical
education (CTE); between high school and postsecondary education and
training; and between education and the workplace;
- To raise student
aspirations and attract more students to postsecondary education in
preparation for technical careers; and
- To provide well-trained
workers to support the recruitment of new businesses and industries to the
Commonwealth and to meet the workforce needs of existing business and
industry.
The
Department of Education has created a website with information related to the
Governor's Career and Technical
Academies: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/ct_academies/index.html. Included on the website are a guidance
document on how to establish a Governor's Career and Technical Academy,
information about the Governor's Career and Technical Education Exemplary
Standards Award Program, and other resources of interest. The Board of Education's criteria to
establish a Governor's Career and Technical
Academy are included in
the guidance document.
All
Governor's Career and Technical
Academies must be
approved by the Board of Education.
Prior to approval by the Board, academy proposals must undergo an
extensive review by both the Virginia Department of Education and the State
Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Partnerships interested in proposing an
academy to the Board of Education are encouraged to review the guidance
document and consult with the Department of Education on a reasonable schedule
for proposal submission in order to meet their own time lines. Partnerships are encouraged to submit an
intent form which is available at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/ct_academies/establishing_new/intent_to_submit.doc.
For additional information about Governor's Career
and Technical Academies, contact Dr. Lois Williams,
STEM coordinator, by e-mail at lois.williams@doe.virginia.gov
or by telephone at (804) 786-8078.
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