Morgantown, West Virginia – The EdVenture Group, Inc. has been awarded $1,956,655 through the United States Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education for the WV CAREERS (Career Awareness, Readiness, Education, and Experiences for Rural Students) Initiative. The initiative will support fifteen rural school districts in increasing recruitment, retention, and completion of students in career and technical education (CTE) pathways aligned with postsecondary programs.
“The EdVenture Group has worked extensively to support career and technical education within West Virginia, and we are grateful to USDE for this award that allows us to expand that work. With an incredible network of partners, we look forward to building a talent pipeline for high-growth industries, allowing students to stay and succeed in their home communities.”
WV CAREERS will provide students beginning as early as middle school with CTE experiences aligned with high-growth industries including education, entrepreneurship and innovation, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, and social services. The effort provides schools and communities with academic supports, technical assistance, and capacity building resources to drive sustainable change. Key partners in the effort include the West Virginia Department of Education’s Division of PK-Adult Instruction and Career Engagement, the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, Marshall University, West Virginia University, and BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
"The West Virginia Career Awareness, Readiness, Education, and Experiences for Rural Students (CAREERS) grant will enhance teachers’ access to vital career pathway resources. This funding will open new avenues for students, enabling them to investigate career options within West Virginia while acquiring the necessary skills for success in the workplace. By collaborating with The EdVenture Group, we are fostering a more promising future for our rural communities through investments in our students, educators, and business partners.”
WV CAREERS is led by The EdVenture Group, a national non-profit committed to creating customized solutions to educational challenges. Founded in 2001 by a classroom teacher, the organization inspires lifelong learning by developing and delivering innovative solutions to opportunities in K-12 education. The organization has managed over $30 million in federal, state, local, and private funding to provide proven processes, programs, and expertise to students, educators, and communities in Appalachia and across the nation. For more information, visit www.theedventuregroup.org or contact Amber Ravenscroft, Director of Innovation, at [email protected].