Raising the Status, Rigor and Relevance of Career and Technical Education in Virginia

The Virginia Governor's Award for Career and Technical Education Exemplary Standards was established by Governor Timothy Kaine in 2007 as part of Virginia's National Governors' Association STEM grant. Administered the by Virginia Career Education Foundation, the first awards were presented in August of 2009.

The Award recognizes exemplary CTE programs in Virginia that complete the rigorous nomination and documentation process. The highest scoring programs receive on site visits with class observations and a series of interviews with a variety of stakeholders.

The work of those recognized will be held as examples for other CTE programs in Virginia, with the goal that all will aspire to the excellence the winners have exhibited. The Governor's Exemplary Award winners will form another piece of the CTE network - highlighting exemplary programs to share best practices throughout the Commonwealth to encourage raising the bar in CTE to better prepare Virginia's future workforce.