Superintendent and CTE leaders outline expansion plan and participation metrics

Superintendent Latanya McDade and her CTE team presented an overview of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to the Prince William County School Board on Feb. 18, outlining current scale, student participation and next steps under the district's strategic plan.

Associate Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Sullivan and CTE leaders said the division's CTE currently includes eight program areas, 16 career clusters, 37 career pathways and more than 130 secondary courses across middle and high schools. Presenters reported more than 50,000 annual enrollments across middle and high school CTE courses and more than 20,000 unduplicated high-school participants each year.

The presentation highlighted outcomes and priorities: more than 4,300 CTE completers were reported last year, the division is expanding work-based learning (over 2,700 students completed work-based learning experiences in the last school year), and the team is pursuing stackable credentials and dual-enrollment partnerships with Northern Virginia Community College.

Dr. Sullivan and Christine Goode said the division's next steps include modernizing middle-school career investigations, expanding high-demand pathways (information technology, health sciences, engineering), and increasing work-based learning and postsecondary partnerships. Board members asked detailed questions about middle-school implementation, internship/apprenticeship distinctions, scholarship opportunities and capacity to scale programs such as welding and turfgrass.

Board members praised the presentation and discussed operational needs. Member Miss Williams asked about crosswalks to core academics; presenters said some CTE courses can satisfy math or literacy standards and the team is working on articulation with postsecondary partners. The superintendent said the division is auditing specialty programs and assessing facility needs to expand CTE access countywide.

Next steps: a board work session on the FY27 budget is scheduled for March 11 and a budget vote on March 18; board members and staff indicated continued follow-up on CTE expansion planning and partnerships with local colleges and employers.