Chief Patron: Williams
Career and Technical Education Coordination with Economic Development (language only)

Item 127 #1h

Language

Page 194, after line 45, insert:

"d.1. Intent. It is the intent of the General Assembly that career and technical education programs funded through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) be aligned with the Commonwealth's economic development priorities and responsive to announced and prospective business investments in Virginia's regions.

2. Coordination Requirements.  The Department of Education shall require, as a condition of distributing Perkins V pass-through funds to local school divisions for secondary career and technical education programs, that each eligible recipient:

(i) Demonstrate in its Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) that it has consulted with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the relevant regional or local economic development authority, and the local workforce development board regarding current and projected workforce needs in target industry sectors;

(ii) Align CTE programs of study offerings with VEDP's published target sectors, including but not limited to advanced manufacturing, technology and cybersecurity, life sciences, and logistics, as applicable to the region;

(iii) Establish a process for receiving notification from regional economic development partners regarding announced business investments that may affect workforce pipeline needs in the locality; and

(iv). Include in its local Perkins plan a description of how CTE program development and industry credential offerings will be adjusted to respond to significant economic development projects within the region.

3. Economic Development Coordination. VECP, through the Virginia Office of Education Economics (VOEE), shall:
(i) Provide to the Department of Education, on at least an annual basis, a summary of sectors and occupational demand projections for each region of the Commonwealth suitable for informing secondary CTE program alignment;

(ii) Notify the Department of Education and the relevant local school division(s) when an announced economic development project receiving state incentive support is expected to create workforce demand in occupations aligned with secondary CTE programs; and

(iii) Collaborate with the Department of Education to identify opportunities for secondary CTE programs to participate in talent pipeline development for new and expanding businesses.

4. Reporting. The Department of Education, in coordination with VOEE, shall report annually to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by November 1 on:
(i) The alignment of secondary CTE programs of study with target sectors by region;

(ii) The number of economic development projects for which secondary CTE programs were notified and engaged in pipeline planning;

(iii) Industry credentials earned by secondary CTE students in target sector occupations; and

(iv) Recommendations for improving coordination between secondary CTE and economic development activities.

5. The requirements of this Item shall apply to Perkins V local plans submitted for program year 2026-2027 and thereafter. The Department of Education shall issue guidance to local school divisions on compliance with these requirements no later than September 1, 2026."