CTAE & Economic Development Partnership Designation Program

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has accepted the Barrow County School System into the 2021-2022 Economic Development Partnership (EDP) Designation program. The EDP is a district-wide certification process preparing school districts to adopt best practices and behaviors that support economic development, strengthen their programs, and align education with key regional industries.

Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) staff will partner with their business, industry and economic development stakeholders to work toward achieving the EDP designation. To achieve the designation, districts must meet required elements that include a focus on business and industry partnerships, strength of local CTAE program offerings, and the school district’s economic development related activities.

State CTAE Director, Dr. Barbara Wall, is excited about this year’s EDP program. “The Economic Development Partnership (EDP) designation supports a school district’s ability to contribute effectively to their local and regional workforce development efforts. The EDP enables school districts to align their CTAE programs with the needs of their local labor market. Fostering a strong relationship between education, business and industry, and economic development stakeholders ensures that we continue to offer high-quality industry relevant CTAE programs that are equitable for all students and are supportive of local talent pipeline development for both now and in the future. I am very proud of the districts that applied and have been accepted into the program for this year. Our team looks forward to working alongside the Barrow County School System in their journey to achieve the EDP.”

As a school district, we look forward to working with representatives from the Georgia Department of Education throughout the next fiscal year on their journey to achieve the EDP. Districts who earn the EDP designation for 2021-2022 will be announced next summer.