Department Of Education

The Department of Education of the U.S. Virgin Islands, operating as the Raphael O Wheatley Skills Center, is a U.S. territorial government entity responsible for administering education and nutrition programs across the U.S. Virgin Islands. Located in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, this entity serves as the state education agency for the territory and functions as a pass-through entity that distributes federal funding to local schools, districts, and educational service providers throughout the insular area. The organization has been registered in SAM.gov since March 2010 and maintains active federal grant prime awardee status across multiple program areas.

The Department of Education receives substantial federal grant funding across six primary service categories. Child nutrition programs represent a major focus, with the entity administering multiple Child Nutrition Program (CNP) grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Child Nutrition Division, including the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables initiative, and various nutrition block grants totaling over $1.4 million annually. Special education services are supported through the Special Education Grants to States program (CFDA 84.027) from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, with awards exceeding $7.6 million for comprehensive services including individualized education plans, specialized therapies, and assistive technologies for children with disabilities. Adult education and literacy services are funded through multiple sources, including the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act programs from both the Office of Career Technical and Adult Education and the Employment and Training Administration, providing approximately $600,000 to $1.2 million annually for workplace literacy, family literacy, and English language acquisition programs. Elementary and secondary education is supported through the Consolidated Grants to the Insular Areas program (CFDA 84.403) from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, awarding over $16.6 million to fund academic instruction, school meal programs, and initiatives to improve student achievement. Workforce development initiatives are supported through the Registered Apprenticeship program (CFDA 17.285) from the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, with a $150,000 project grant aimed at expanding apprenticeship opportunities. The entity also receives funding for food distribution programs, including TEFAP administrative grants and SNAP-related distribution services. Sub-awards are distributed to numerous schools and educational facilities across the territory, including elementary schools, junior and senior high schools, alternative academies, adult education centers, curriculum centers, and specialized facilities such as the Wheatley Skills Center campus, with notable sub-awardees including Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, St. Croix Educational Complex, Eulalie Rivera Elementary School, and multiple other island schools serving the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands.