Career and technical education begins in the middle school with exploratory programs. Offered in three program areas: business, technology, and work and family studies (formerly known as home economics). At this level, sixth grade students can choose to take nine-week exploratory classes in any or all of the four areas. In the seventh and eighth grades, students can choose to take semester classes.
Each high school offers programs in agriculture, business, marketing, technology and family and consumer sciences. These courses are single periods and are available to students in grades 9 through 12. Another option for vocational education is available at Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center. Junior and senior students from all high schools may elect to attend classes at SCTC. These classes are daily two block, four-credit classes and are highly specialized. Classes are taught in two broad program areas, Health and Trade and Industrial Programs. Health programs include: dental careers and practical nursing. Trade and Industrial Education programs include: air conditioning and refrigeration, auto body, auto mechanics, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, drafting, electricity, electronics, graphic communications, masonry, and radio/television broadcasting.
Funding for these programs comes from three sources:
- State funds
- Federal funds
- Locally appropriated funds.
Recent training initiatives have focused on integrating the Virginia Standards of Learning into the Career and Technical curriculum. Each of the program areas is in the process of mapping their curriculum to ensure that the SOL’s are infused into the curriculum. The biggest challenge facing Career and Technical education is keeping competencies, equipment, and facilities current to meet the needs of employers in our region, state, and nation. In keeping with this challenge, equipment upgrades have occurred at all levels. In addition, a craft committee made up of business and industry representatives serves each program area. These representatives serve as advisors to the program areas.