McAuliffe announces Education and Workforce in a New Virginia Economy legislative package

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today a series of legislative proposals aimed at improving public schools, enhancing the workforce system, and preparing the students of the Commonwealth to be successful members of the new Virginia economy. The Governor’s announcement comes the day before the convening of the 2016 General Assembly.

Speaking before an audience of educators, stakeholders, advocates, and legislators in Richmond, Governor McAuliffe said, “Getting every student the skills and training they need to succeed is an essential part of our efforts to build a new Virginia economy. This agenda is designed to lay a foundation for future economic growth by reorienting our education and training approach to meet the demands of 21^st Century employers. By making smart investments in education, transforming our approach to high school education and strengthening our workforce training pipeline, we can create new opportunities for Virginia students and businesses to thrive.”

“The legislative proposals Governor McAuliffe outlined today will help our young people become successful members of the 21^st century workforce,” Secretary of Education Anne Holton said. “The Governor’s budget and his legislative package prove he is dedicated to improving education for every student in the Commonwealth.”

“Talent is the Commonwealth’s number one asset, and these bold initiatives will help ensure that we are preparing our talent for the opportunities of the 21^st Century,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “I applaud Governor McAuliffe and the rest of the team for these efforts to create and sustain a world-class workforce in Virginia.”

Below is a summary of the legislative proposals Governor McAuliffe announced today:

Redesigning high school for the 21^st century

• Requires the Board of Education to establish new expectations for high school graduates and changes the way credits are earned for graduation.
• Puts a greater emphasis on hands-on learning, early college courses and industry credentials while maintaining rigorous standards.

CTE Teachers

• Enables schools to hire current and retired industry experts as temporary or part-time career and technical education teachers.
• Will help to fill empty teaching positions while giving students the unique opportunity to gain critical CTE training from skilled professionals in high-demand industries.

Academic credit for previous certifications

• Enables students to receive academic credit for previously-earned industry certifications when pursuing a community college degree.
• Allows community college students to build on prior experience instead of having to repeat coursework.

Paving the way for high-demand workforce credentials

• Require the development of a plan and a funding formula to support the $24.6 million budget proposal to increase the number of high-demand workforce credentials awarded each year.
• Provides for progress reports to ensure the goals are being met.
• Ensures that state-supported industry certifications and licenses are aligned with business and industry needs so that more Virginians can access well-paying jobs.

Restructuring financial aid

• Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program will provide enhanced awards for students enrolled in at least 30 credit hours of coursework over the course of the year, including summers.
• Extends eligibility for financial aid to young people who are not defined as dependents, such as foster children and homeless youth.
• Incentivizes students to complete more credits over the course of a year and increases their chances of on-time graduation.

Veterans with medical experience

• Establishes a pilot project through the Department of Veterans Services that will enable former military medics and corpsmen to use their skills in health care careers while earning civilian credentials.