Information Technology Certification Exams

Item 131 #1c

Language
Page 91, line 3, strike "$18,782,491" and insert "$20,282,491".
Page 91, line 3, strike "$18,782,491" and insert "$20,282,491".
Page 92, after line 36, insert:
"C.1.  Out of the appropriations in this item, $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support students and teachers pursuing information technology industry certifications through an information technology academy model.  The funding is provided for the information technology academy model and shall be used to provide outreach, training, instructional resources, industry recognized certification opportunities for teachers and students enrolled in Virginia public high schools and regional career and technical education programs.
2.  The funds provided in this initiative shall be used to increase the percentage of students enrolled in career and technical education courses in the information technology academy program and to increase the number of high schools and regional career and technical education programs that receive the training and technical support relative to the information technology academy model and to increase the number of teachers teaching targeted career and technical education courses."

Explanation
(This amendment provides funding for previous contractual obligations for an Information Technology (IT) Academy, which consists of a formal online curriculum that prepares students to pass Industry Certification Exams. Through a statewide agreement, this curriculum has been made available to every high school student enrolled in over 30 career and technical education (CTE) courses, integrating the IT Academy model and to the teachers assigned to those courses. In addition, this appropriation will cover the cost of a statewide license with a third party provider for the certification examinations. This action is a work-force development initiative to help prepare students to be career-ready or college-ready when they graduate from high school.)