Volusia CTE reports 4,600+ industry certifications, $6 million in grants; district studying technical-school models
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Summary
Career and Technical Education leaders told the school board the program issued more than 4,600 industry certifications this year, secured over $6 million in grants (about $3 million for aerospace/engineering), and is researching options for a potential technical school model.
The Volusia County School Board heard an annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) report Tuesday that detailed expansion of certifications, internships and grant funding — and staff said they are researching models for a potential technical school.
Dr. Kristen Pierce, district CTE leader, told the board "over 4,600 students earned industry certifications this year, grades 9 through 12," and that the district secured more than $6,000,000 in grant funding directed to schools and academies. She said about $3,000,000 of that funding targets aerospace and engineering programs.
Pierce also reported a senior-level CCA course produced more than 780 WordPress editor certifications with a 92% pass rate, and district leaders had lined up more than 450 internship opportunities for students this summer. "We are also placing 30 plus students within our own Volusia County Schools department," Pierce said, adding the district hopes to expand internal placements next year.
The CTE division presented several lab remodels and new program starts, including a welding program at Deltona High School and a land lab at Ormond Beach Middle School aligned with Seabreeze High School’s agriculture academy. Pierce told board members she and staff are visiting existing technical-school programs in other districts and collecting information "in the early research phase" to evaluate possible models for Volusia.
Why it matters: the CTE report outlines workforce-aligned programming, grant-funded expansions and potential capital projects that affect students, employer partners and future district facilities planning. Board members praised the expansion while asking staff to return with more detail if a technical-school proposal moves beyond research.
What’s next: CTE staff will continue research into technical-school models and return to the board with findings and recommendations if the project advances past the information-gathering stage.
