Kaine creates "PlugGED In" pilot program

12:05 p.m.

LEBANON, Va. (AP) - Adults in southwest Virginia who are preparing for high school equivalency diplomas now can train for entry-level technology jobs at the same time.
Gov. Tim Kaine traveled to Russell County on Tuesday to announce the state pilot program in southwest Virginia. Census data shows the region has a high percentage of adults who didn't finish high school.
Classes will be taught at the University of Virginia at Wise's Southwest Virginia Technology Development Center in Lebanon. Those who complete the six-month program will earn a GED certificate and will have an interview with Northrop Grumman, which has a center in Russell County.

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11:32 a.m.

Governor's Office news release

LEBANON— Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of “PlugGED In,” an initiative to prepare high school dropouts for entry-level technology jobs while they prepare for the GED tests. The program will start as a pilot program in Southwest Virginia, where census data shows a high percentage of working-age adults without a high school-level credential. Attending on behalf of the Governor, Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra joined U.S. Senator Jim Webb for today’s announcement at an event in Russell County.

“We want to show that there is a path for all Virginians to enter the high-tech workforce of the 21st century economy,” Governor Kaine said. “This innovative program will advance my workforce development strategic plan. Launching the pilot program in Russell County demonstrates that high-tech jobs are and will be available in all parts of the Commonwealth.”

“I am honored to be a part of the launch of this innovative education initiative in Russell County,” said Senator Webb. “The PlugGED In program is a strong example of a public-private partnership that will work to ensure that employer demands are being met through a globally competitive, skilled workforce. I have every confidence that this initiative will strengthen the community and invigorate the local economy.”

The “PlugGED In” curriculum will prepare participants to pass the GED tests while also providing project-based instruction in the technology skills critical for entry-level employees. Classes will meet three nights a week at the University of Virginia at Wise’s Southwest Virginia Technology Development Center in Lebanon and will be co-taught by faculty from the Russell County adult education program and Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC). Individuals who complete the six-month program will earn a GED certificate, build a technology portfolio, have an opportunity to earn Microsoft certifications free of charge through partnerships with the Microsoft Academy and SWCC, and have a guaranteed interview with Northrop Grumman, which has a facility in Russell County.

“We are deeply committed to the notion that our economic future rests on our ability to tap the hidden potential of all Virginians,” Secretary Chopra said. “This bold initiative challenges us to cultivate that talent in a model that, if successful, can be replicated across the Commonwealth.”

Secretary Chopra and a planning team assembled by Virginia Board of Education President Mark Emblidge began work on the program and curriculum in early 2008. The team included representatives from the Literacy Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Department of Education, the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt University. Other partners include Southwest Virginia Community College, the University of Virginia at Wise, Russell County Public Schools, Microsoft, Inc., Northrop Grumman, and CGI, Inc.

“When we got everyone to the table, we saw a real opportunity to align adult education with the needs of major employers,” Dr. Emblidge said. “Everybody wins — the student, the employers and the community.”

After the outlines of the “PlugGED In” program were developed, Northrop Grumman and CGI Inc. — which both established facilities in Russell County in recent years — signaled their eagerness to participate in a pilot. Students will receive guidance from volunteer mentors from both Northrop Grumman and CGI Inc., as well as career coaching from the community college.

"Northrop Grumman needs qualified IT professionals at our facility in Lebanon,” said Jim Tiscornia, Program Manager with Northrop Grumman. "The PlugGED In program will play an important role in helping us fill these needs."

“This partnership aligns perfectly with Microsoft’s mission to enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential,” said Linda Zecher, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for Worldwide Public Sector. “We’re thrilled to be involved with this initiative because it confronts a serious problem with an innovative solution that will pay dividends to the community’s citizens and businesses.”

“Virginia has pioneered programs that meet adults where they are and help them earn a GED certificate quickly,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. “Now we’re looking at ways to combine GED preparation with industry certification and training in the hard and soft skills young adults must have to succeed in the workforce.”

The Virginia Department of Education’s recent efforts toward expanded testing access and curriculum development have resulted in substantial increases in testing and credentialing. In 2002, 14,982 people took the GED tests in Virginia, and 11,830 GED credentials were awarded. In 2008, 24,492 people took the tests, and the commonwealth awarded 16,479 certificates. Using Virginia’s innovative Fast Track GED curriculum, many people are able to complete the program in just three to six months.