For School Counselors — Spotting Tool Grant Candidates

School counselors often see what CTE teachers don't: the senior who's quietly already lined up an apprenticeship, the kid who's been working alongside a tradesperson uncle every summer, the student whose post-graduation plan is "starting at Henderson Plumbing on June 15."

If you're a Virginia high school counselor, you're in a unique position to spot Apprentice Tool Grant candidates — sometimes earlier than the CTE teacher does. Here's what to look for.

The pattern

A student you should think about nominating is one who:

• Is a graduating senior

• Has completed a hard-trades CTE pathway (Architecture & Construction, Manufacturing, or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics)

• Has earned or is about to earn an industry-recognized credential

• Has a concrete plan to enter full-time trade work — apprenticeship, employer, or registered apprenticeship that pairs with required CC coursework

• Qualifies for free lunch under the federal school meals program

If three of those five are true and a fourth is plausible, talk to the student and the CTE teacher about a nomination.

Where the conversation usually starts

You're meeting with a senior about their post-graduation plan. They say, "I'm going to work for my uncle's framing crew" or "I got an apprenticeship at the IBEW hall" or "I'm going to start at the Caterpillar dealership in Roanoke as an entry-level tech." That's the conversation that should trigger a mental check — does this student qualify for an Apprentice Tool Grant?

Coordinating with the CTE teacher

In most cases, the CTE teacher is the natural nominator — they've watched the student earn the credential and know the work. But sometimes the CTE teacher is overwhelmed, doesn't know about the grant, or doesn't know about the student's post-graduation plan yet. As a counselor, you can either nominate the student yourself or hand the nomination to the CTE teacher with a heads-up.

Either works. The form asks for a nominator's role and reasoning — it doesn't require you to be the CTE teacher specifically.

One nomination per student

If you and the CTE teacher both want to advocate for the same student, coordinate. One nomination, with both names attached if you'd like, is cleaner than two competing submissions.

The take

You see the post-graduation plan before the rest of the school does. Use that. If a senior is heading into the trade with a credential and a plan, a tool grant might be the single most material thing your school can do for them on their way out the door.

Ready to nominate?Open the nomination form →