Road to Readiness: Graduating Students with Best Practices Skills

Governor Glenn Youngkin launched the Road to Readiness platform, providing users with information on school performance across Virginia. It complements the School Performance and Support Framework by offering insights into performance metrics and support resources.

The Virginia Board of Education has adopted the School Performance and Support Framework, which incorporates the 3E Readiness Framework to assess high school preparedness in terms of Enrollment, Employment, and Enlistment. This framework is designed to ensure students acquire practical experience and achieve key milestones for post-secondary education, vocational training, workforce participation, or military service.

Schools are categorized based on their performance: “Distinguished,” “On Track,” “Off Track,” and “Needs Intensive Support.” “Distinguished” schools exceed expectations for growth and readiness, while those needing “Intensive Support” do not meet state expectations. “On Track” and “Off Track” indicate whether schools meet expectations.

The new framework aims to show how schools meet state laws and regulations, providing timely and transparent information on student and school performance, says the VDOE. It also seeks to enhance the allocation of state resources. Data collection on assessments is ongoing, with full implementation set for the 2025-26 school year.

Best Practice Initiatives Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has joined the growing list of states and private employers that are embracing skills-based hiring practices. In Virginia, the Commonwealth will overhaul its hiring practices by eliminating degree requirements, preferences, or both for nearly 90% of state classified positions. This bold move aims to extend opportunities to all Virginians, making the workforce more inclusive and accessible.

Career Technical Education (CTE) and Work Based Learning (WBL) methods are essential for preparing citizens for modern careers. Virginia emphasizes CTE for 21st-century jobs, offering key hands-on learning opportunities.

• Registered Apprenticeships

• Internships

• Supervised Agricultural Experiences

• Entrepreneurship

• Clinical Experiences

• School-based Enterprises

Career and Technical Education has been instrumental in addressing dropout rates and enhancing student engagement. National studies indicate that many high school dropouts, including students with learning challenges such as dyslexia, might have stayed in school if they had access to relevant, real-world, hands-on learning experiences.

Virginia's schools illustrate the importance of practical skills: the 2021-2022 CTE student graduation rate was 95.7%. The New Horizons Regional Education Centers (NHREC), Virginia's largest regional education center, has been honored for programs that close the skills gap. NHREC’s Good Life Solution (GLS) Program partners with local employers to recruit, hire, and retain graduates directly from high school. A 2022 study found only 21% of 16-19-year-olds stay in a job for over a year, but the Good Life Solution program has an 86% retention rate since its start. It offers a replicable model with positive returns for Virginia and the nation's workforce.

Digital Learning Platforms

Arkansas has adopted a digital learning platform called Arkansas Launch to connect people to career opportunities in collaboration with Edge Factor's smart platform. This new approach is designed to support educators and guidance counselors to inspire students and job seekers. Edge Factor uses engaging content and interactive tools to help users explore, prepare for, and connect with careers by:

• Story-Driven Content: Age-appropriate narratives motivate learners.

• Interactive Activities: Hands-on tasks develop practical skills.

• Digital Badges: Learners can earn badges to highlight achievements.

Edge Factor programs are designed for guidance counselors and CTE teachers to rejuvenate career and workforce development in local communities. Edge Factor partners with schools, companies, community organizations, and workforce development teams. See how it works in the community.

Edge Factor transforms e-learning by connecting education to future careers using innovative digital tools. It provides personalized pathways for students, linking their education to career opportunities. See how it works in the classroom.

As educators prepare for Road To Readiness initiatives, Edge Factor offers a proven process for engaging students at all levels, helping them explore and connect with real-world examples to become skilled, career-ready citizens. The Road to Readiness is about creating an ecosystem where all participants--students, educators, parents, and community members—work together to achieve a shared vision for preparing skilled career-ready citizens to join the workforce, military or go onto college.

Glenn Marshall lives in Williamsburg, he is dyslexic, retired from Newport News Shipbuilding and serves as a volunteer in the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) Southeastern Regional board of directors and the Reshoring Initiative. Contact him at Marsh82792@aol.com

REFERENCES RESHORING INITIATIVE

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