What We Do
The Secretary of Education assists the Governor in the development and implementation of the state's education policy. The Education Secretariat provides guidance to the 16 public universities, the Virginia Community College System, five higher education and research centers, the Department of Education, the state-supported museums.
Governor Kaine's Top Education Goals
- Expand access to high-quality preschool education.
- Dramatically increase the number of students who are reading proficiently by third grade.
- Better prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce.
- Increase the number of graduates at all levels, from high
school to community college to senior college and graduate programs.
See here for additional details.
Virginia Higher Education Preparedness Consortium
The Virginia Higher Education Preparedness Consortium (VHEPC) was created a year ago by the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness and the Secretary of Education to assist state government agencies in the study and analysis of strategic issues and proposed or enacted policies that address the spectrum of safety, security, and preparedness for all hazard threats to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
For more information, please visit their website
American Diploma Project
The American Diploma Project (ADP) Network includes 32 states that are dedicated to making sure every high school graduate is prepared for college or work.
In Virginia, representatives from community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, the Department of Education, the Secretary of Education’s Office, NASA-Langley and the College Board are working with high school teachers to make sure Virginia’s high school standards adequately prepare students for postsecondary education and high-performance jobs.
For more info and links, please see our American Diploma Project page.
Commonwealth Scholars
"Moving from Competence to Excellence"Commonwealth Scholars is a business-driven program that encourages all students to take a more challenging course of study in high school and recognizes the efforts of those who successfully complete the program. Members of the business community play a vital role in Commonwealth Scholars by visiting middle and high school classrooms and making presentations that help students understand the relevance of more rigorous courses and how that will benefit them in college and the workplace. Students who complete the Commonwealth Scholars course of study will be better prepared for whatever work or studies they pursue after graduation from high school. Governor Kaine launched this initiative in September 2006.
For additional Scholars information visit the Virginia Career Education Foundation website and for more detail on increased academic rigor visit our P-16 page.