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The school board unanimously approved the local plan and budget for Suffolk’s Career and Technical Education for the 2025-2026 school year during the April 10 meeting.

The tentative budget is $295,272.58 and will be split between five CTE activities. 

58% of the budget will go to expanding and modernizing quality CTE programs, including upgrading or obtaining new equipment, software, references, and resources. 

Of the remaining budget, 12% will go to professional development — conferences, curriculum writing, district-wide assessments, and job shadowing — 7% will go to student career and leadership activities — competitive events at the state and national levels, work-based learning opportunities, professional student conferences, and non-traditional extravaganza — 20% will go to the Virginia credentialing initiative, and the remaining 3% will support the administrative costs associated with the implementation of the plan. 

The CTE budget is provided by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) and includes the following activities and projects to address the Perkins Act requirements:

• CTE Advisory Council involvement
• Career Pathway Plan of Study which includes transition into degree programs at Paul D. Camp Community College
• Activities that will strengthen and improve the academic and technical skills of students; provide teachers and students with an understanding of all aspects of industry; modernize quality CTE programs; support professional development; use data to evaluate and improve CTE programs; and facilitate linkage between and transition from secondary to postsecondary programs to employment
• Awareness of the Virginia Credential Initiative 

Signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018, the Act provides over $1 billion annually for CTE programs across the country.