Several area public schools and universities area is advancing their career and technical education programs that pair students with vocational training and businesses. CTE, or work-based learning, as it's also known, is a hot topic in the region as public school divisions aim to place students into internships and externships at companies in the region. The practice gained steam in 2018, but it was derailed by government-ordered school building closures brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. In Fredericksburg today, more than 500 students were invited to attend an internship expo at the city's event center, where they could interview representatives from prospective companies looking to attract new talent. Regional school divisions, including Stafford County Public Schools and Mary Washington University, participated in the second-annual event organized by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. https://twitter.com/NSHSNorthNation/status/1625558088211210245 Meanwhile, the Manassas City Public Schools Work-based Learning office invited more than 50 people to Osbourn High School for a workshop on its program, which aims to place more than 500 seniors with companies by next year as part of a newly-expanded, ambitious internship program that will require students to obtain 280 hours of work to receive credit for the work-based learning course. https://twitter.com/ManassasCityWBL/status/1623817028191547393 In Prince William County, public schools Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade said students must graduate with six CTE dual enrollment credits by 2025. More in McDade's statement:

February is also Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. CTE programs are critical in preparing our students for employment in fast-growing fields, such as computer programming, engineering, health science, and skilled trades. I invite you to view a video featuring one of our exemplary CTE programs at Osbourn Park High School.

Commitment 1 of our Strategic Plan, Learning and Achievement for All, includes the goal of having at least 1,000 CTE students graduate high school with a minimum of six CTE dual enrollment credits by 2025. We are also proud to feature our CTE programs, teachers, and students, including these recent examples that I am excited to share:

Collective bargaining is moving forward at Prince William County Public Schools.

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The Woodbridge Vikings Crew Team is having a fundraiser now through March 4, 2023.

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Before the land was slated for up to 14 Devlin Road Technology Park data centers, Stanley Martin Homes wanted to build more than 1,800 homes on nearly 900 acres in Bristow in 2014.

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A long-serving Prince William County School Board member won't seek re-election.

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Updated 5:30 p.m. -- Prince William police found no bomb at Unity Reed High School after someone threatened to bring an explosive to the school at 8820 Rixlew Lane, near Manassas Mall, just before 1 p.m. today.

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Prince William County Public Schools student talent was displayed at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Youth Oratorical Competition, and Program held virtually on January 16, 2023.

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Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. LaTayna McDade issued a statement after administrators at Battlefield, Colgan, Forest Park, and Patriots failed to tell 28 students they received letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program.

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Last Wednesday, Didlake donated about 300 books for elementary to middle school-age children to SPARK (Supporting Partnerships and Resources for Kids), the education foundation for Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS). Didlake raised money for the books through donations to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program at its The UPS Store franchises.

"SPARK, the education foundation for PWCS, is grateful for the wonderful donation of books from Didlake and The UPS Stores. It is support from community partners such as these that allow our foundation to continue to provide invaluable resources to our education community here at Prince William County Public Schools," said Dawn Davis, Executive Director of SPARK, after accepting the books from Joe Diaz, Didlake COO, and April Chervenka, Business Manager of The UPS Stores for Didlake. SPARK engages community partners to fund and promote initiatives that enhance educational excellence. Didlake currently owns two The UPS Store franchises - one in Center at Innovation in Manassas and the other on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax. The donations were collected at these two stores as well as at The UPS Store in Woodbridge, which Didlake owned from 2015 until the first of December. This was Didlake's second donation through the fundraising program; last month, Didlake donated books to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Prince William County. "We greatly appreciate the opportunity to give back to our local community through this fundraising effort. We have no doubt the books will go to great use by SPARK and teachers in Prince William County, as well as by the Boys and Girls Clubs. It's a small token of our appreciation for everything these organizations do to shape the lives of youth in our area. Thank you to all of our customers who opted to round up their purchases to make these donations possible," said Joe Diaz, Didlake COO. The UPS Store, Inc. is the exclusive sponsor of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, an initiative of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation that's dedicated to supporting childhood literacy across the U.S. The UPS Stores, which are independently owned and operated, collect donations year-round through customer rounded-up purchases to benefit children in need. The Toys for Tots Literacy Program then sends a collection of Scholastic books for children in grades K-5+ to the participating stores and the store owners select a local charity supporting children in need to receive the books. Launched in 2008, the Toys for Tots Literacy Program offers the nation's most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and to communicate effectively. The UPS Store network has contributed nearly $8 million dollars and distributed more than 44 million books throughout the nation.