Valley of Virginia Partnership for Education

Mission:	For further information:

The mission of the VVPE is to serve as a regional resource center, program source, and coordinating group to encourage and support partnerships among K-12 education, higher education, adult education, and businesses/industry that seek to improve educational quality, resource accessibility, educational access, economic development and work force preparation for the greater Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.	Research and Program Innovation Elizabeth Knight E-mail: knighteb@jmu.edu Phone: (540) 568-2700 Fax: (540) 568-1784 http://www.jmu.edu/outreach

Background:	VVPE Partners:
The Valley of Virginia Partnership for Education is an inter-sectoral partnership founded by the education and business communities of Shenandoah Valley in October 1991. The VVPE seeks to maximize the educational investments of participating communities through partnerships, resource sharing, coordinating of activities, joint projects, and enhanced communication. The VVPE is an outreach program of James Madison University's Research and Program Innovation.	Research and Program Innovation Shenandoah Valley Technology Council Shenandoah Valley Partnership Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Shenandoah Summit James Madison University

Future:
In recent months, the VVPE has spawned a number of other organizations. In doing so, many of the original responsibilities of the VVPE have been replicated. It was therefore decided by the Executive Committee on October 17, 2001 to refocus the direction of the VVPE such that the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP) is now responsbile for continuing to support the SVWDAP, and will focus on workforce development. JMU's Office of Research and Program Innovation will continue to support educational outreach through the sponsorship and coordination of the VVPE Semi-Annual Educational Forums and the Shenandoah Summit.

Accomplishments:
The VVPE has significantly enhanced the quality of educational activities, promoted shared resources, improved work force preparation, increased access to educational opportunities and increased articulation of students from secondary schools to college or the world or work. Notable accomplishments include: Co-sponsored Virginia Power's TechHigh high school mathematics/science enrichment program Established World Wide Web site making resources available electronically Facilitated successful partnerships: John C. Myers Middle School/IBM/JMU Ottobine/Rocco/JMU - national winner of The Coalition on Education Initiatives Community Solutions for Education Award and listed in USA Today's "Community Solutions for Education" and winner of Governor's Partnership in Education Award Spotswood High School Wilbur S. Pence - winner of Governor's Partnership in Education Award Published Rockfish Gap Revisited, a guide to strategic planning processes and regional work force analysis Served as a partner in a number of successful grant proposals Sponsored economic development activities and Western Virginia Strategic Development Conferences
Publisher: Research and Program Innovation Contact: Shawn Burns Last revised: March 25, 2002