Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career And Technical Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kanawha County Schools partners with Job Corps to expand CTE options
Summary
Dr. Smith described a new collaboration with Job Corps that keeps participants enrolled in Kanawha County Schools while giving them access to residential supports and industry certifications in high-demand trades, with options for half-day, full-day or residential participation.
Doctor Smith told the board the new agreement with Job Corps lets students remain Kanawha County students while receiving career technical education and residential supports as needed, rather than having to drop out to access Job Corps programs. “They'll still be getting support through us. We're not washing our hands of them and sending them over there,” Smith said.
Smith said students will complete high school diplomas while earning industry-recognized certifications in fields such as HVAC, carpentry, network and cabling, medical administrative assistant and facilities maintenance. He described multiple participation models — half-day students who remain tied to their home school, full-day students who commute or drive themselves, and residential students who can live on campus and receive daily supervision, counseling and career planning. Smith noted Job Corps residential capacity near 300 even though the program currently serves about 80–90 students in that location.
School leaders framed the partnership as a way to serve students at risk of disengagement by offering structured options, mentoring and work-based learning that can lead directly to high-paying careers. Staff said coordination will include shared monitoring, academic and career planning, counseling services and regular communication between KCS and Job Corps so students keep their district records and supports.
