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1998 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 124
Requesting the State Board for Community Colleges and the Board of Education to study the feasibility of establishing technology centers to focus on workforce training and education.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 1998
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 1998

WHEREAS, creating a stronger, better prepared workforce and providing for the continuing education of the current and future workforce are clearly of great importance to Virginia's continued economic growth and prosperity; and

WHEREAS, an increasingly global marketplace, characterized by sophisticated communications, ever-changing computer technology, and intense foreign competition, has prompted the implementation of state economic development policies emphasizing not only quality physical infrastructure and technology transfer but also the preparation of an educated and highly skilled workforce; and

WHEREAS, because students must keep pace with ongoing changes in technology and business, education and training must be available to provide such opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the demand by business and industry on community colleges and public schools to educate and highly train a quality workforce is steadily increasing; and

WHEREAS, partnerships between community colleges and public schools are attempting to bridge the gap between graduates of their respective institutions and the workplace; and

WHEREAS, the creation in one area of the state of a joint technology center that has been designed to address workforce training and education might serve as a model for other regions to develop a blueprint for future technical training in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the State Board for Community Colleges and the Board of Education be requested to study the feasibility of establishing technology centers to focus on workforce training and education. The Boards shall consider, among other things, (i) the appropriate placement and governance of such centers and the role of community colleges in supporting these centers; (ii) ways in which these centers might facilitate the establishment of community incentive partnerships and expand dual enrollment opportunities; (iii) coordination between the community colleges and the public schools in addressing workforce training and education; (iv) linkages between education and business that may promote educational preparation for the workplace; and (v) such other issues as the Boards may deem appropriate.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Boards, upon request.

The Boards shall complete their work in time to report their findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1999 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.