How One State is Looking to Fill High Demand Job Fields

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And Good Day 🙂 

It’s been a whirlwind of a couple weeks, and the news has certainly been depressing to say the least. That is why we are keeping today’s news light and mostly positive (or at the very least, not negative). Also, we will be taking a break next week. We’ve been at this non-stop for the past 9 months, and a week break is needed to disconnect, refresh, and rejuvenate. Do not fret! Your favorite educational newsletter will be back on October 6.

And happy birthday to my son who turns five-years-old today 😊

Cheers ☕

Lab Schools looking to fill in-demand professions

An "innovative, high-quality education experience" is the description that the Department of Education provides. Lab schools are not standalone; they partner with schools, whether higher education or high school, as well as with employers and within local communities.

The purpose of a lab school is to focus on professions in demand in the country, and one such field is health care. In Southwest Virginia, this is the case where they need healthcare workers. Governor Glenn Youngkin is a big supporter of lab schools, and in 2022, the General Assembly allocated $100 million to support them. Since then, 15 lab schools have been approved, with 6 currently operating. Lab schools are not only allowing students to gain experience in the healthcare field while earning college credits but also shaping the future of the healthcare industry with their innovative approach.

The current labs that are operating in Virginia right now are:

• Southwest Virginia HEALS Academy, Emory, and Henry University

• Future Educators Academy, Germanna Community College

• Academy of Technology and Innovation, University of Mary Washington

• The Lab School for Innovation and Career Exploration, James Madison University

• The UVA Innovation Hub, University of Virginia

• CodeRVA, Virginia Commonwealth University

Kasey Ball, a student who is part of the program and a junior at Holston High School in Damascus and part of the HEALS lab, is working toward earning a general studies certificate. Her reasoning, she stated, is, "That way, I can basically have one year of college under my belt before I actually finish high school. This is definitely a wonderful opportunity, and I think most people don't realize how truly blessed we are to have it."

On the other hand, there are students who might have ambitions to go into the health field, but when they experience some of the jobs in the health field, they might realize it is not for them. For example, a student witnessed a procedure that involved blood. After seeing that, the student decided she could not handle this experience. Finding out in high school is much better than having to find out in college that the healthcare industry is not for you, potentially saving this student thousands of dollars.

The program is free to 10th-12th grade students, with classes taken counting as dual enrollment. The program is rigorous, and students who take part understand the commitment that they have to demonstrate. The courses that will be taken will be equivalent to taking 15 college credit semester hours.

Ava Austin, a junior in high school, finds it challenging to balance her regular classes with the demands of the program, but "as long as I plan out my days and look at what I have to do each day, it's been pretty manageable."

Currently, 44 students are enrolled in the lab's program, with a total capacity of 150 students. Continued funding is still challenging, but the momentum to have these programs in Virginia is overwhelming. The likelihood that these programs will succeed and expand is promising. The need for healthcare workers - doctors, nurses, physician assistants, EMTs - will always be needed, and having a pipeline of motivated high school students to pull from will help fill those needs in the future. This potential for expansion is a beacon of hope for the future of healthcare education in Virginia.

Funding blocked by Governor Cooper

Last week, we wrote about how North Carolina’s legislature passed a bill diverting public school funds to private schools. The likelihood of that bill being vetoed was high, and that is exactly what Governor Roy Cooper did on Friday. He told reporters, “We’re here today because we know that private school vouchers are the biggest threat to public schools in decades…That veto can be upheld if enough legislators in both parties tell Republican leaders that they don’t want to vote on the veto override this year.”

Currently, there would be enough Republican votes to override the Governor’s veto.

Matt Mercer, an NCGOP spokesperson, said of the Governor’s decision to veto the bill, “Funding Opportunity Scholarships allowing families to choose an education plan that works best for them is a common-sense way to improve student outcomes. It is unfortunate that in his final weeks in office, Gov. Cooper would continue to play political games at the expense of North Carolina families.”

Governor Cooper made clear that he is not against parents having the option for their children to attend private schools but against the idea that the richest families would benefit from public taxpayer money. He emphasized that the money could be better spent on giving public school teachers an 8-and-a-half percent raise and a $1500 retention bonus.

The bill had a clause granting teachers raises, but the state Senate refused to include that, so it was removed.

The state legislation is out of session until October 9 and will return for one day next month. That is when Republicans can decide to override Gov. Cooper’s veto. Otherwise, they will have to wait until the November general election to do so.

The Final Minute

1. Thousands of Georgia students participated in a statewide school walkout on Friday, prompted by the recent Apalachee school shooting and growing concerns about safety in schools. At Wheeler High School in Cobb County, hundreds of students gathered on the football field, holding signs, chanting "We want change," and taping pictures of Apalachee shooting victims to a fence alongside sticky notes explaining their reasons for walking out. The demonstration, supported by school officials, featured student speeches demanding an end to gun violence in schools, with one student, Eric Le, emphasizing that young people are ready to bring this issue to the polls when they can vote, questioning why Georgia politicians aren't addressing the root of the problem.

2. In September, Hope Means Nevada held its fourth virtual statewide discussion on teen mental health, focusing on school resources, wraparound services, and legislative priorities. Three Nevada teens emphasized the importance of anonymous support systems like the 988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline, highlighting how traditional school screenings can be uncomfortable and less effective for students struggling with mental health issues. The discussion also touched on the stigma surrounding vulnerability in schools, the impact of social media on mental health, and the success of Teen Hope Network's leadership program in engaging youth across the state. Looking ahead, the Children's Advocacy Alliance outlined legislative priorities for children's mental health, including creating a dedicated office, streamlining licensure processes, and developing educational programs to keep mental health professionals in Nevada, while school districts reported on their progress in crisis response and student support initiatives.

3. A group of sophomore football players at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, formed an unlikely friendship with school custodian Francis Apraku, leading to an extraordinary act of kindness. After learning of Apraku's dream to own a Jeep Wrangler, the students launched a fundraising campaign that raised $22,000 in four months, allowing them to surprise him with a 2015 model. The gesture overwhelmed Apraku, bringing him to tears and to his knees in the school parking lot, with the custodian expressing his gratitude and disbelief at the students' generosity, stating, "I can't believe this in America, only in America."

4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Thursday that whooping cough cases in the United States have surged to their highest levels in nearly a decade, with 291 cases reported for the week ending September 14, 2024. This year's total of 14,569 cases is more than four times higher than the number reported by this time last year, surpassing even pre-pandemic levels from 2019. The resurgence is attributed to several factors, including the switch to less effective but safer vaccines in the 1970s, waning immunity, and potential mutations in circulating pertussis strains. In response to this concerning trend, the Food and Drug Administration is considering human challenge trials to accelerate the development of more effective vaccines, with an advisory panel scheduled to meet to discuss this potential approach.

Closing Bell

On this day in…

1976 - Charlie’s Angels debuts

1982 - Family Ties (starring Michael J. Fox) debuts

1987 - Full House debuts (R.I.P. Bob Saget)

1989 - Baywatch debuts

1994 - Friends debuts

1999 - The West Wing debuts

2003 - Two and a Half Men debuts

2004 - One of the greatest show ever, Lost, debuts

2004 - Veronica Mars debuts

2009 - NCIS LA debuts

Safe to say, this is a good day to debut a tv show if you want it to be successful!