If you want to get excited about the future of Washington state, look no further than the one million students in our public schools.
Driven, motivated, and ambitious, our students are focused on their dream careers and the next steps to make them a reality. Nearly 88% of Washington high schoolers aspire to pursue postsecondary education in the form of a college degree, apprenticeship or certificate opportunity. And like their Gen-Z peers across the country, they desire meaningful work that makes a positive impact on the world around them.
To build outstanding workforce development programs that equip our students with real-life experience, Washington school districts and nonprofits have partnered with LAUNCH: Equitable & Accelerated Pathways for All, a national college and career pathways initiative that strives for every learner to have access to and succeed in high-quality and equitable career exploration.
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“Not everybody is college-bound, but 70% of the jobs in our state require some sort of credential, so we need to ensure every student has the skills and resources to be employable and have a clear path to family-sustaining careers,” said Angie Mason-Smith of Washington STEM. “We’re pushing toward ‘career’ as the outcome with the understanding that there’s a variety of ways to get there.”
Piloting career exploration with equity and accessibility
Washington has already established career exploration initiatives, but there continues to be a disparity in program accessibility and implementation at the local level. LAUNCH allows districts to tailor and test innovative solutions to bridge the gaps in access to equitable career-connected learning experiences that align with student aspirations and meet the state’s workforce needs.
According to Mason-Smith, three districts were selected to reflect the diversity of the state—Tacoma Public Schools, one of Washington’s largest districts; Elma School District, a small rural district; and Richland School District, which represents suburban students.
As Washington STEM advocated for policies that expanded dual credit programs and career-connected learning opportunities, district coordinators partnered with local industry leaders to develop CTE programs centered on high-demand, high-wage career pathways in fields such as healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and aerospace. Today, more than 186,500 Washington students participate in CTE courses, with a state goal to reach 70% credential attainment for the class of 2030.
“We have done extensive evaluations on which programs are most interesting for the kids and provide them with the most significant resources,” said Richland School District board member Jill Oldson. “Because our CTE programs reflect their interest and goals, participants consistently have higher graduation rates than the general student population. And they’re graduating with the exact tools and skill base they need to enter the job field.”
Student-centered programs lead to incredible outcomes
Program focus and priorities differ by district, with each one designing initiatives around the needs of their student population and the local job market. Richland School District, for instance, emphasizes its CTE Dual Credit program so students can earn credits toward an industry credential or college degree. Its Work-Site Learning program where they receive hands-on instruction at local job sites.
In Tacoma, the school district and the city continue to evolve and expand the Jobs 253 program, connecting more than 1,000 students to learning opportunities that provide up to 80 hours of job training.
The variety of options is extensive, expanding beyond traditional manufacturing and machinery positions to roles at Metro Parks Tacoma, the Museum of Glass, and local nonprofits.
In addition, Tacoma Public Schools is partnering with the Port of Tacoma to open Maritime 253, a skill center that will create a ready-made workforce for one of the city’s largest industries. The diversity and flexibility of Jobs 253 has been embraced by excited and energized students.
“The future of learning is personalized,” explained Adam Kulaas, director of innovative learning at Tacoma Public Schools. “We adapt CTE scenarios to empower students, giving them not just a sense of ownership, but actual control over their current learning experiences. By being intentional and building pathways that go beyond the diploma, we help kids frame what their futures will look like.”
Just a few counties over, students from Elma High School are graduating with more than their diploma—they’ve earned their journeyman cards to jump into well-paying careers in the manufacturing field. Through the district’s partnership with the AJAC: Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships program, CTE students spend school mornings and summers working at local employers and afternoons enrolled in 150 hours of college-level classroom instruction.
“The opportunity can be life-changing for students,” said Superintendent Christopher Nesmith. “As a district, we are deeply committed to empowering our students and breaking barriers that may impact their success. By working together—schools, businesses and organizations—we can create programs that ensure all students have access to high-quality learning experiences that prepare them for bright futures.”
A step ahead toward a successful career
For students in Richland, Tacoma, and Elma, a typical school day doesn’t always take place in the classroom. And the traditional graduation-to-career path doesn’t always include a stop at a college or university.
Because of the ambitious and innovative efforts of district leaders, kids who have been historically underrepresented are now on an upward trajectory for their futures.
The lessons learned through the LAUNCH pilot program continue to expand beyond the districts’ borders. The LAUNCH team has identified unique barriers in creating equitable pathways and is sharing best practices with statewide partners to inform future policies.
Through a broader system change, we can ensure that when Washington students walk across the stage at graduation, they are already a step ahead toward a successful career.
