State Profile For Washington

Data sources used in this profile (PDF,177Kb)

State Director

Ms. Eleni Papadakis, Executive Director
Workforce Training & Education Coord Board
P.O. Box 43105
Olympia, WA 98504

CTE Web Site(s) as Applicable

Secondary: http://www.k12.wa.us/CareerTechEd/default.aspx

Postsecondary: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/e_workforceedu.aspx

CTE website: http://www.wtb.wa.gov/

Mission

Secondary: Career and Technical Education is a planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options, supports basic academic and life skills, and enables achievement of high academic standards, leadership, preparation for industry-defined work, and advanced and continuing education.
Postsecondary: The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges build strong communities, individuals and families, and achieve greater global competitiveness and prosperity for the state and its economy by raising the knowledge and skills of the state’s residents. The Workforce Training Board’s Vision: Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is an active and effective partnership of labor, business, and government leaders guiding the best workforce development system in the world. Our Mission: We shape strategies to create and sustain a high-skill, high-wage economy. To fulfill this mission, the Board will: Advise the Governor, Legislature, and other policymakers on workforce development policy and innovative practice; Promote a seamless workforce development system that anticipates and meets the lifelong learning and employment needs of our current and future workforce; Advocate for the training and education needed for success in the 75-80 percent of jobs that do not require a baccalaureate degree; and Ensure quality and accountability by evaluating results, and supporting high standards and continuous improvement.

CTE Statistics

Number of Public High Schools: 370
Number of Public High Schools Offering Solely (or primarily) CTE courses: 12
Number of Students in Public High Schools: 331,916
Number of Secondary Students Enrolled in CTE: 200,773
Number of Public Community Colleges: 34
Number of Students at Public Community Colleges: 190,423
Number of Postsecondary Students Enrolled in CTE: 203,902
Perkins Funds Received: $24,002,185

CTE Governance Structure

Perkins Eligible Agency: Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
Agency Administering Secondary CTE: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Agency Administering Postsecondary CTE: State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Programmatic Control For Secondary CTE: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Programmatic Control For Postsecondary CTE: State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

CTE Funding: Non-Perkins

Key: Increased Funding  Small_green_arrow_up    Decreased Funding   Small_red_arrow_down    Funding Maintained   Small_blue_arrow_both
State Secondary Funding: Small_green_arrow_up
State Postsecondary Funding: Small_green_arrow_up
Local Secondary Funding: Small_green_arrow_up
Local Postsecondary Funding: Small_green_arrow_up

State Director Roles and Responsibilities

The State Director has the title of Executive Director of the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. While the State Director represents the state in this role, the secondary system is represented on the Board by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (or her designee). The post-secondary system is represented on the Board by the Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (or his designee). Washington’s State Director is an appointed position. The director is the head of an independent state agency, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. This agency’s purpose is to provide planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis for the state training system as a whole. Other specific program responsibilities include:

CTE Connections to Secondary Education and High School Reform

Career and technical education plays a significant role in high school reform efforts. Washington has recently developed program approval standards for CTE programs pursuant to legislative direction. The new standards align CTE with academic standards and emphasize the CTE role in aiding improvements in student achievement. Legislation passed in 2005 will require accountability measures for CTE programs. The State Director is providing support and taking part in conversations related to the state’s high school reforms efforts.

Implementation of Career Clusters

Washington believes that Career Clusters offer an infrastructure for a seamless educational transition between all learner levels. Washington sees Career Clusters as a tool for career guidance and a means to organize instruction and sequences of courses.
In order to effectively implement Career Clusters, Washington has integrated Career Clusters into the state plan and the 2005 edition of the “Where are You Going” career planning guide. The state has adopted strategies to help with the implementation of Career Clusters. For example, Career Clusters are used to support effective transitions between secondary and postsecondary education. Washington has benchmarked existing program standards against Career Cluster knowledge and skill statements, and has incorporated the Career Clusters into statewide career planning presentations.
Several delivery methods are being used locally to implement and deliver Career Clusters, including career academies and Tech Prep.


Implementation levels of programs of study