READ HOW YOUR CHAMBER IS PARTNERING TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS:

InsideNOVA March 2019

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION: “Career and technical education programs in Virginia public schools serve more than 550,000 students in grades 6-12. These programs are designed to prepare young people for productive futures while meeting the commonwealth’s need for well-trained and industry-certified technical workers.” Learn more from the Virginia Department of Education >> 

CAREER CLUSTERS: PATHWAYS TO COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS: In cooperation with the National Career Technical Education Foundation (NCTEF), the National Association of State Directors of Career & Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEC) provides leadership to deliver high-quality CTE programs through improved curriculum design & instruction. There are 16 Career Clusters  & related Career Pathways for students to explore to better prepare for college and/or a career.  This site includes a Listing of the 16 Career Clusters & 79 Pathways.

How can you get involved in purposefully investing in YOUR future workforce right now? 

WORK-BASED LEARNING: According to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), work-based learning is a school-coordinated coherent sequence of workplace experiences that are related to students’ career goals and/or interests, are based on instructional preparation, and are performed in partnership with local businesses, industries, or other organizations in the community. 

YOUTH REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM: A STEPPING STONE TO A CAREER. According to the Virginia Department of Industry & Labor (VADOLI) the Youth Registered Apprenticeship (YRA) integrates school-based and work-based learning to help students gain employ-ability and occupational skills. Local programs provide training based on statewide youth apprenticeship curriculum guidelines, endorsed by business and industry. Students are instructed by qualified teachers and skilled journey worker work-site experts.  Students are simultaneously enrolled in academic classes to meet high school graduation requirements and in occupation specific related instruction classes.

Once an employer becomes an approved YRA sponsor, the student is hired and registered as an apprentice. The participating sponsor/employer provides supervision of a skilled mentor and the student continues on with the Career Technical Education (CTE) training at his/her school. Learn more from the Department of Industry & Labor. https://tinyurl.com/ybjgqgm9

That’s where YOU come in! Through the efforts of our Education & Innovation Committee, we are working with the local school systems to bring local business and industry partners together with the workforce of tomorrow. Our primary areas of focus will be on Job Shadowing and Cooperative Education. 

Want to connect your organization to our school divisions?

To stay connected to this Committee’s activities & impact in our community, complete this simple form to help us find ways to get you plugged in:

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As time goes on, our Education & Innovation Committee will become more involved and offer connections to our other local school districts. In the meantime, check out this chart by the VDOE, featuring a comparison of Work-Based Learning Methods of Instruction. {Click to view}

Contact the Chamber’s Director of Community Outreach, Suzanne Lewis to discuss your ideas and the opportunities your business is able to offer: slewis@pwchamber.org // 571-765-7753