WVBE Receives CTE Apprenticeship Success Update

Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) received an update on the Classroom 2 Career (C2C) Apprenticeship program during its meeting in Charleston today. The initiative has experienced significant expansion over the past five years, with hundreds of business partners and thousands of students participating.

Utilizing on-the-job training, C2C blends classroom-based instruction with structured paid work experience. The apprenticeships are tailored to meet the needs of students and local workforce partners.

The program serves as a pipeline to employment or additional education, with students earning wages while they learn and an opportunity for employment upon high school graduation, while businesses invest in the workforce of tomorrow.

Pathways include aviation, manufacturing, healthcare, education and tourism among others. Last year, more than 2,000 student apprentices in the state earned more than $5 million and logged more than 350,000 work hours. This was possible through the 600 business partners that provide opportunities statewide.

Visit the Classroom 2 Career page on the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) website for more information.

State Superintendent Evaluation

In accordance with W.Va. Code §18-3-1, the WVBE evaluates the state superintendent's performance each year. During the past year, Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt has strengthened local networks of support to better address student outcomes, expanded public education and business partnerships to increase resources for local schools and statewide initiatives, improved accountability metrics, and finalized a comprehensive plan to address the decline of middle school achievement. A Board majority gave Superintendent Blatt an outstanding rating on each performance standard.

WVSSAC Transfer Rule

The WVBE also approved West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission's (WVSSAC) rule changes resulting from the passage of House Bill 4425 during the 2026 West Virginia Legislative Session. The bill repealed previous legislation that allowed students to transfer to other schools without losing eligibility. The revision was approved as an emergency rule and made effective June 11, 2026. Public comment is extended 30 days from the effective date.

Other WVSSAC rules were approved by the WVBE, and details are available on the agenda posted on the WVDE website.

Counties Under Intervention

The WVBE heard reports from Mingo, Nicholas and Tyler counties, which remain under full state intervention. These counties are required to provide the Board with updates at least every six months. No action was taken, and the WVDE will continue to work with leadership in these counties to support and build capacity in county operations.

Special Circumstance Reviews and reports filed with the WVBE are available on the WVDE website.

Items shared during the meeting, along with a video recording of the stream, are available on the WVBE June 3, 2026 meeting calendar page on the WVDE website.

The next regularly scheduled WVBE meeting is 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Building 6, Suite 600, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.