Why WA students are choosing Career & Technical Education programs

As the cost of college continues to rise and industries quickly evolve, more Washington students and their families are considering alternative paths to career success. Washington state and its public schools are investing in programs that blend hands-on experience, career readiness, and academic growth.

This year, Washington lawmakers passed legislation to ensure that the credits students earn in Career and Technical Education programs can be applied after they graduate from high school.

“We’re ensuring students see real value from the classes they take, and that those credits help launch their careers,”  said Rep. Dave Paul, who was the primary sponsor of the bill.

House Bill 1273 solves the disconnect between students taking CTE classes and receiving those credits. By streamlining the credit transfer process, eliminating administrative redundancies, and mandating alignment with job market needs, the law aims to ensure these credits hold tangible value beyond high school.

“This is a major step toward workforce readiness,” said Paul, who serves on the Postsecondary Education & Workforce (Chair), Transportation, and Technology, Economic Development & Veterans committees. Paul represents the rural 10th district in Washington, which includes Snohomish and Skagit counties.

Across Washington, CTE programs are giving students real-world tools while aligning with the industries shaping the state’s economic future.

A critical part of that is Washington’s 14 regional skills centers, which provide access to highly specialized CTE programs that would be too expensive or niche for individual districts to run alone. These regional schools are designed to serve high schoolers from across multiple districts, offering high-quality training in fields from cybersecurity and biotech to automotive design.

"We help students find their why," said Kari Schuh, who serves as the director of The Washington Network for Innovative Careers Skill Center. "A skills center is a place where students can find their place, purpose, and passion.”

The Washington Network for Innovative Careers Skill Center, located in Kirkland and serving multiple districts in the Eastside region, is one of the most robust examples. It offers half-day programs that work in tandem with students’ high school courses, with options including fire science, dental assisting, and animation.

“I feel like skill centers are the best-kept secrets in Washington State,” Schuh said.

In Wenatchee, CTE is helping students get ahead of one of the biggest challenges facing Washington communities — sustainable energy.

Jacob Bucholz, who directs CTE programs for the Wenatchee School District, said their students can complete internships with tech companies like Advanced Energy Movement to develop energy reduction strategies.

“These students are getting a head start in a sector that’s going to matter more and more,” Bucholz said. “Energy management will be critical to continued economic growth. The fact that our students are already contributing to that conversation is huge.”

From welding and journalism to climate tech and career exploration, Washington’s CTE programs aren’t just reacting to workforce needs — they’re helping shape the future. For many students, they’re revealing the first spark of purpose.

The Rise of Career & Technical Education (CTE) in Washington

Washington’s CTE infrastructure is vast and growing. In 2023, more than 180,000 students were enrolled in secondary CTE. These programs of study are structured under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and incorporate academics and hands-on training that align with Washington’s economic landscape — from agriculture and healthcare to information technology and clean energy.

All CTE courses in Washington are approved through a statewide framework by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). According to OSPI, the standards set within the framework were created to ensure high-quality career and technical programs across the state are industry-aligned and designed in collaboration with local advisory councils. These frameworks address regional skills gaps, include extended learning opportunities, and align with Washington State Learning Standards. The intention, according to OSPI, is to design courses that not only meet rigorous academic expectations but also prepare students to thrive in their local economies and beyond.

These courses fall into 16 official "career clusters," each of which is developed with careful attention to labor market trends and student interest. Within these clusters, students follow progressive coursework that becomes increasingly occupation-specific and culminates in  industry credit or a postsecondary certificate.

College-Bound and Career-Ready: Dismantling CTE Stereotypes

While Career and Technical Education (CTE) has traditionally been associated with apprenticeships and two-year training programs, a growing number of Washington programs are deliberately designed as gateways to four-year degrees. According to Ryan Beard, Senior Program Officer of Career Pathways at Washington STEM, the perception that CTE is solely for students who aren't "college material" is outdated — and damaging.

“There’s still this carry-over belief that CTE isn’t academic, especially when compared to AP (Advanced Placement courses),” Beard said. “But that’s not the reality. We have programs across the state that are direct lines to nursing degrees, IT certifications, and even advanced mathematics pathways.”

Beard said there has been research that students who complete even one CTE credit in high school experience better outcomes in postsecondary enrollment and earnings, especially when those credits are aligned to a clear pathway.

Still, a persistent gap remains. According to Paul, in 2023, over 56,000 students enrolled in these courses. Yet, he said only 3% of those students will successfully apply those credits toward a postsecondary credential.

Beard said that is because of “a communication and advising gap” more than a capability one. Most students, she noted, aspire to postsecondary education, 88% according to a July 2022, Washington STEM report.

Yet, many teachers and advisors underestimate those ambitions. The same Washington STEM survey found that school staff believe only 48% of students aspire to pursue a postsecondary credential. That’s a 40% discrepancy that highlights how disconnected advising can be from students’ actual goals and the full range of pathways available to them.

Equity and Inclusion: Broadening Access to CTE

This seamless transition from high school to community college and beyond is particularly important for nontraditional, neurodiverse, and historically marginalized learners.

“Our colleges are increasingly investing in holistic supports to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of our diverse communities,” said Laura McDowell, who is the director of communications for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges..

Community colleges and skill centers have emerged as safe, flexible learning environments for students who may not thrive in traditional academic settings—offering wraparound services, co-teaching models, and accessible, industry-aligned coursework.

For neurodivergent students in particular, the hands-on nature of CTE can be transformative.

 “These students are able to dive into the content and learn through activities such as cooking, building wood projects and designing automation or computer applications,” shared Mark Sherwood, Executive Director of Communications for Issaquah School District.

Many programs now incorporate paraprofessional support, sensory-friendly environments, and individualized coaching to ensure every student can thrive.

Equity also means removing systemic barriers that have historically kept indigenous women-identifying, and students of color out of high-wage, high-growth fields like engineering, finance, and computer science.

Junior Achievement Washington, a career-readiness partner to hundreds of schools and community organizations across Washington state and North Idaho, is working to change that narrative.

“When parents serving on the district’s strategic planning committee identified financial literacy as a top priority, the school board responded by passing a resolution to make it a required part of the curriculum,” said Katya Turnbow, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Through immersive programs like JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, more than 5,100 students have already experienced hands-on learning that connects education to real-world responsibilities.

"JA programming doesn't just teach kids how to budget—it helps them visualize their future roles in the economy and understand how to build lasting financial stability," Turnbow said.

And while inclusion remains a central goal, so does innovation.

“We’ve adapted our curriculum in collaboration with partners like YouthCare to ensure it's relevant to youth experiencing homelessness and others navigating alternative learning environments,” Turnbow said.

Policy in Motion: Legislative Support for Career Readiness

Career Connect Washington, a statewide coalition launched with legislative support in 2019, is working to scale career-connected learning programs to every corner of the state. The coalition establishes multiple pathways for students of all ages.

Beginning as early as elementary school, the Career Explore program brings career fairs and guest speakers to schools and gives student opportunities to shadow professionals. Career Prep deepens exposure through summer internships, skills center courses, or CTE course concentrations. Finally, Career Launch, gives students access to paid internships, registered apprenticeships, and college coursework aligned to real industry standards.

The state’s goal is that 60% of young adults (ages 16–30) will participate in a Career Launch program by 2030.

Beard and her colleagues at Washington STEM support Career Connect Washington and the broader effort to align secondary and postsecondary systems. That momentum took a significant step forward in 2023, when the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges launched a dual credit pilot program to improve regional consistency in credit articulation. The goal — make it easier for students to earn and use college credit through CTE coursework, regardless of where they live.

The program’s success encouraged lawmakers to vote in favor of  this year’s legislation HB 1273, which removes barriers that have made it harder for high school students — especially those in rural and underserved areas — to earn college credit through Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit courses.

At the federal level, Perkins V continues to be a cornerstone of CTE funding in the state. Washington received approximately $26 million in Perkins funds during the 2023–24 school year, which supported program development and access to high-quality CTE across school districts and skill centers.

Perkins funding is used to supplement, not replace, state and local investments. It supports services that would otherwise not be available, including specialized equipment, student supports, and the development of new industry-aligned coursework.

The law also requires a comprehensive local needs assessment to ensure CTE programs reflect the needs of students and their communities.

Together, these policy levers are helping Washington build a career-connected learning ecosystem where every student can explore, prepare for, and launch into a future filled with purpose.

Building the Future of Work, Together

The state’s career readiness ecosystem isn’t just growing — it’s becoming more equitable, more responsive, and more aligned with what Washington’s students need to thrive. As the stigma around vocational education fades and more students see CTE not as a fallback, but as a forward-looking opportunity, the momentum only continues.

“This shift reflects a broader understanding that career and technical education is not an alternative to academic success but a powerful complement to it,” Sherwood said.

As Washington deepens its commitment to dual credit alignment, workforce partnerships, and regional equity, many education professionals agree that career-connected learning is no longer a side track, but a central strategy. Career and Technical Education has become one of the most dynamic and future-forward investments in Washington’s educational landscape, equipping a new generation with the tools to thrive in a changing economy.