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Career and Technical Education

Stafford Schools provide diverse Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs aimed at enhancing students' academic and technical skills, catering to those seeking employment, military enlistment, or further education after high school. These programs offer hands-on experiences and practical applications through Work-Based Learning (WBL) methods and Career and Technical Student Organizations, fostering leadership opportunities.

Key points about CTE include:

1. Relevance and Career Preparation: CTE emphasizes practical, hands-on experiences preparing students for high-demand careers, military service, or post-secondary education.

2. Program Areas: Stafford Schools offer CTE courses in various fields, including Agriculture, Business and Information Technology, Career Connections, Family and Consumer Science, Health and Medical Science, Marketing, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), Technology Education, and Trade and Industrial Education.

3. Workplace Readiness Skills (WRS): Virginia's Workplace Readiness Skills (WRS) encompass personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and professional competencies, reinforcing learning and vital attributes for success in CTE courses.

4. CTE Completer and Sequential Electives: Students pursuing diplomas enhance their career plans by enrolling in CTE courses. Sequential electives should be chosen from the same discipline or subject area for qualification as sequential electives.

5. CTE Industry Credentials: Students have opportunities to earn industry credentials, which validate advanced educational preparation and add value to their transcripts for post-secondary education or employment. Credentials can include State-Issued Professional Licenses, Industry Certifications from recognized associations, Occupational Competency Assessments, and Workplace Readiness Skills certifications from CTE Consortium of States (CTECS).

Students are encouraged to explore CTE offerings aligned with their interests and career plans, seeking guidance from CTE teachers or counselors for more information on credential opportunities and course selection. These programs aim to equip students with essential skills and credentials necessary for success in various career paths.

Postsecondary Education and Employment Data

State law requires that the school division’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program must include a notice on its website to enrolled high school students and their parents/guardians of the:

  1. *Availability of postsecondary education and employment data published by the State Council of Higher Education
    1. View the Top 100 professions in the Commonwealth by median pay and the education, training, and skills required for each such profession  
    2. View the Top 10 degree programs at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth by median pay of program graduates  
  2. Opportunity for such students to obtain a nationally recognized career readiness certificate at a local public high school, comprehensive community college, or workforce center.

*The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education researched and compiled the Top 100 professions and Top 10 degree program data for the 2024-25 school year. The information is based on occupational employment statistics and educational attainment data produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as longitudinal wage data produced by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.   

The Virginia Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) website provides additional CTE resources. See also Level Up Virginia for information on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia webpage.

Nondiscrimination

The board does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, political affiliation, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, mental or physical disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic prohibited by state and/or federal law. This policy covers all programs, services, policies, and procedures of Stafford County Public Schools, including all educational programs, admission to such programs, activities, and employment.

The contact persons for compliance are:

Employees and Applicants: Human Resources and Talent Development, 540 658-6560

Title IX (students): Title IX Coordinator, Office of Student Conduct, 540-658-6000

Section 504 (students): 504 Coordinator, Department of Student Services and Special Education, 540-658-6000

General Nondiscrimination Policy Inquiries: Division Counsel, 540-658-6000