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Southampton schools present career and technical education plan; district cites rising CTE participation and credentialing goals
Summary
District staff presented the local CTE annual plan, reporting increased participation, credential stacking, workplace-readiness gains and plans to expand middle-grade offerings and work-based learning opportunities.
Southampton County Public Schools staff presented the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) local annual plan, saying CTE participation has increased and outlining changes the district intends to make in courses, credentials and work-based learning.
A staff member identified in the record as Staff member (CTE presenter) told the board the plan is data-driven and uses the Commonwealth of Virginia State System of performance standards to benchmark local programs. The presenter said “a significant portion of the student body” is enrolled in at least one CTE course and that 74 percent of participating students take multiple CTE courses. The presenter said planned expansions in sixth- through eighth-grade courses could add “approximately 150 students” to next year’s projections.
The presentation listed program areas the district will target: work-based learning, industry partnerships, career exploration, and school-based enterprises such as culinary, greenhouse/agriculture and a retail school store run by entrepreneurship classes. The presenter said the district is “stacking credentials” so students may earn multiple industry-recognized credentials across courses and said early testing rounds produced a 93 percent pass rate on RISE tests and an 82.81 percent workplace-readiness pass rate for courses noted in the presentation.
Staff described specific course offerings in agriculture science; business and information technology (new courses: entrepreneurship advanced, information technology fundamentals and sports and entertainment management); family and consumer sciences (including culinary arts); health-related programs (nursing, medical assistant, patient care tech); technology and engineering (architecture, engineering drawing and robotics); and trade and industry (cosmetology and unmanned aircraft). Staff also described off-campus dual-enrollment opportunities in electricity and welding.
The district highlighted school-based enterprise activity: culinary catering events funded partly through a state equipment grant of $6,429.30; greenhouse seedling sales tied to a Family Fun Fest; and a childcare program with three preschool students and a $3,367.44 grant for playground repairs and equipment. Staff said they plan a comprehensive marketing effort to grow the childcare enrollment for 2025–26.
The presentation described use of a CTE advisory board, PLC meetings for course review, an advisory document covering CTSOs, equipment, instruction and internships, and plans to analyze end-of-year examination and credential scores for continuous improvement.
No board vote was recorded on the plan during the meeting; the presentation was listed as an informational item and staff invited board questions.
