For Immediate Release: April 19, 2023
Media Contact: Charles B. Pyle
RICHMOND —Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons today announced the awarding of $600,000 in competitive grants to 16 school divisions to upgrade equipment for career and technical education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs in schools and technical centers. Each division will receive $37,500 to purchase new equipment and make other improvements to enhance student learning.
“First, I want to thank the members of the General Assembly for recognizing the importance of quality CTE programs and for their sustained support of these annual grants to school divisions,” Coons said. “These grants continue to allow our school divisions to develop robust and innovative CTE programs that are up to date technologically and help prepare students for the realities and expectations of today’s workforce.”
The awards, by school division and school, are as follows:
- Caroline County to purchase a geriatric program implementation simulator for Caroline County Schools’ Innovative and Engaging Career Exploration program.
- Chesapeake to purchase a 3D printer and software for the Governor’s STEM Academy at Grassfield High’s If You Can Dream it, You Can Print it program.
- Danville to purchase a solar alternative energy learning system for George Washington High’s solar energy learning program.
- Frederick County to purchase a laser engraving and cutting system for James Wood High’s Precision and Manufacturing Go Hand-in-Hand program.
- Giles County to purchase a machining lathe and software for Giles County Technology Center’s Precision Machining Technology program.
- Goochland County to purchase an augmented reality welding system for Goochland County Schools Learning and Building Welding Skills through Augmented Reality program.
- Greensville County to purchase a cutting machine and plasma cutter system for Greensville County High’s Producing Certified Welders via Built-In Intelligence and Revolutionary SYNC program.
- Hampton to purchase a 4-axis robot arm, software and 3D printer for Jones Magnet Middle’s Innovation Career Exploration through Digital Fabrication program.
- King William County to purchase a virtual reality welding simulator and monitors for King William County Schools’ Bringing Welding to the 21st Century program.
- Montgomery County to purchase virtual reality and mixed reality hardware and software technology for the Governor’s STEM Academy’s Implementing Design/Build Training through Virtual Reality program.
- Prince Edward County to purchase an augmented reality and virtual reality platform and camera for Prince Edward High’s Innovative Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Technology program.
- Prince William County to purchase a laser system cutting table, router and 3D printer for Potomac Middle’s Excellence in Education with Innovation Equipment program.
- Richmond to purchase drones, controllers and software for the Governor’s STEM Academy at Richmond Technical Center’s Students Take Flight in the River City program.
- Roanoke County to purchase an augmented reality and virtual reality platform and robotics software for the Governor’s STEM Academy at the Burton Center’s Enhancing CTE through Immersive Technology program.
- Staunton to purchase a programmable mobile robotics platform for Staunton High’s Robo-Dog: The Classroom Pet of the 21st Century program.
- Wythe County to purchase programmable drones with electronic image stabilization cameras Fort Chiswell High and Wythe County Technical Center’s Connecting Wythe County Youth to Unmanned Aircraft Systems program.
The General Assembly established the CTE equipment grant program in 2016, and the Virginia Department of Education awarded the first grants to schools and technical centers in 2017. Since then, the program has provided $4.2 million to help school divisions update equipment and enhance learning and experiences for career and technical education students.
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