2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26108344D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 263

Offered March 6, 2026

Commending Louisa County High School's Career and Technical Education program.

—————

Patrons—Laufer and Fowler; Senator: Deeds

—————

WHEREAS, Louisa County High School's Career and Technical Education program is one of the most varied and successful in the Commonwealth, offering students hands-on courses that prepare them for college, careers, and industry credentials in areas such as culinary arts, firefighting, cosmetology, building trades, turf management, automotive mechanics, nursing, and more; and

WHEREAS, students in Louisa County High School's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program can earn industry certifications, licenses, and even paychecks while still in high school, and 66.5 percent of Louisa County High School's Class of 2025 earned a CTE seal; and

WHEREAS, Louisa County High School's CTE program has more than 120 business sponsors, which are businesses and organizations that are committed to hiring and training students through internships and apprenticeships, and more than 160 students have been placed in an internship or apprenticeship program within the past school year; and

WHEREAS, Louisa County Public Schools holds an annual CTE Signing Day, when students publicly commit to pathways in the workforce, military, or further education, helping strengthen community awareness of CTE's success and the involvement of local employers; and

WHEREAS, Louisa County High School's CTE program strongly emphasizes real-world, hands-on experience; through the Commonwealth's high-quality work-based learning framework, students gain workplace experience tied to their career goals in partnership with local businesses and organizations, which helps reinforce classroom instruction and build essential skills for employability like communication, critical thinking, and collaboration; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the achievements of its CTE program, Louisa County High School earned the prestigious “Distinguished School” rating from the Department of Education and first-place honors in the Virginia School Boards Association's Excellence in Workforce Readiness award contest in 2025, which specifically recognized the school's automotive technology program; and

WHEREAS, Louisa County High School launched a United States Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the start of the 2025–2026 school year, offering students exposure to military experiences, as well as leadership and character development programs designed to nurture civic responsibility, discipline, and life skills; and

WHEREAS, as part of its CTE program, Louisa County Public Schools has installed the Impact Studio at Louisa County High School and the Creation Station at Louisa County Middle School, which are both state-of-the-art workspaces for students that include three-dimensional printers, virtual reality headsets, laser cutters, and more; and

WHEREAS, Louisa County High School's automotive technology program was featured by several major news outlets, including ABC World News Tonight, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, to highlight its partnership with the local nonprofit Giving Words, which supports students who refurbish and repair automobiles that are then presented for free to single mothers in need of transportation assistance; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Louisa County High School's Career and Technical Education program for its legacy of service in preparing young people for successful and fulfilling careers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Louisa County High School's Career and Technical Education program as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its contributions to career and technical education in Louisa County and the Commonwealth.