Washington State Skill Center Association

💫The Benefits to Completing a Skills Center Program💫

Students who receive training at a Skills Centers can expect to:
✅Prepare for entry-level job placement with workplace readiness skills, industry needed soft skills, leadership knowledge, and technical knowledge
✅Prepare for college entry through rigorous, hands-on learning
✅Earn equivalency and cross-credit for some courses; providing credit in both career and technical education and basic education subject areas
✅Meet graduation requirements
✅ Earn up to 3+ high school credits in a full-year program (up to 6 credits over two full years)
✅ Learn from teachers/partners who come from business and industry
✅ Receive information on career and post-secondary opportunities
✅ Participate in internships, pre-apprenticeships, and worksite learning
✅ Develop a personal career portfolio
✅ Participate in a wide range of leadership activities/programs
✅ Receive certificates of competency
✅ Make the transition from school to work and/or post-secondary education
✅ Receive advanced placement and/or college credit through Tech Prep programs

❓Who else benefits ❓

🌟Not only does the student gain the necessary industry skills, workplace readiness skills and college entry preparedness, industry, community, and colleges also benefit from this experience as well.

🌟Students that complete a skills center program enter the workplace ready and able to meet industry expectations. A student that chooses to enter post-secondary education programs come more prepared for the expectations set forth.

Students may earn a variety of workplace certifications including:
✅ A+ Certified (Comptia)
✅ ASE – Automotive Service Excellence
✅ AWS – American Welding Society
✅ CISCO – Computer Networking
✅ NAC – Nursing Assistant Certified
✅ I-CAR
✅ Microsoft MCP
✅ Oracle Internet Academy
✅ DigiPen
✅ Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS)
✅ Net+, I-Net+ (Comptia)
✅ ACCESS-American Culinary Federation
✅ Pro-Start – National Restaurant Association
✅ State Licensing

https://www.washingtonskillscenters.org/page/overview

We’re excited to share the newly launched TeachWelding.org website!
This is a hub designed to support welding educators, students, and industry partners.

Here, you’ll find resources, teaching tools, and connections to help grow the next generation of skilled welders.

👉Educators if you would like a Welding Pathway Map created specifically for your schools welding program reach out today!
They are also asking for photos to share! If you have photos 📸 of your students in action please share them!
https://www.teachwelding.org/contact-us

👉 Explore the site, check out the new features, and see how TeachWelding.org can support your classroom and career pathway. This site is NEW and still under construction so be sure to check in periodically to see whats changing.

Visit us at www.TeachWelding.org and let's spark the future of welding together! ⚡️👩🏽‍🏭🔥👨🏿‍🏭🔥👨🏼‍🏭⚡️

#TeachWelding #WeldingEducation #SkilledTrades #futureready
https://www.teachwelding.org/

#FunFactFriday #DidYouKnow

Myth or Fact?

MYTH #7:
Cognitive assessments (or a minimum IQ score) are necessary for academic goals and instruction.

FACT:

🎉The Truth Is...

✅ IEP goals and service areas—including academic, adaptive, social, and functional skills—should be aligned to grade-level learning standards and reflect student needs. They should not be determined by a single test score or measure.

✅Students with significant cognitive disabilities should have access and exposure to age-appropriate, grade-level content in addition to instruction that meets their functional and adaptive needs.

✅ Online IEP systems used by districts should offer case managers flexibility to individualize service areas. For example, IEP service areas should not have "locked" categories that only map back to the evaluation

STRATEGIES FOR DISPELLING THE MYTH:

💫Plan instruction based on grade-level standards and utilize Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to make general education lessons accessible and effective for all.

💫Identify natural learning opportunities during general education transitions/routines and maximize these embedded opportunities to teach adaptive skills using effective instructional strategies.

💫Special curriculum resources used for students with the most significant disabilities should be based on peer-reviewed research and aligned to the student’s enrolled grade-level content.

💫Provide training to support IEP teams (including parents) on how to write inclusive, standards-aligned IEPs and IEP goals.

All students with disabilities, including those with significant cognitive disabilities, must be included in MTSS planning and implementation.

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE FACTS:

-Federal education laws require that students with the most significant cognitive disabilities receive instruction in the same grade-level content as all other students, although the achievement expected on grade-level content can be reduced in breadth, depth, and complexity.
-OSERS Policy Guidance on Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
-OSPI assessment resources: Guidance for IEP Teams: Student Participation in Statewide Assessments; WA-AIM Access Point Frameworks
-TIES Center Brief #4: Providing Meaningful General Education Curriculum Access to Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
-TIES Center Resource: Comprehensive Educational Planning tool

OSPI Publication "Myths-Facts-Inclusionary-Practices"
https://ospi.k12.wa.us

🚀 Find Your Career Pathway! #BuildYourFuture
Not sure what you want to do after high school? That’s okay—exploring starts here! At NCTA, you can discover hands-on programs in healthcare, trades, maritime, technology, culinary arts, and more.
Your pathway to college, apprenticeships, or a career begins with real-world experience today. 🌟

👉 Explore your options. Apply now and start building your future! There is a place for YOU here @ NCTA!
Apply Today! https://ncta.smapply.io/
Many of our courses still have openings and some open up during the first few weeks of the year! Don't miss the opportunity to get a jump start on your future career pathway!
#CareerReady #FutureFocused #HandsOnLearning
#SkillsForSuccess #CareerPathways #skilledtrades #CTE #STEM

💫Meet our Schools!💫

Introducing 🌟NEWTech Prep!🌟 Located in Spokane📍

Learn More!
📱 509.354.7470
📩 Patrickl@spokaneschools.org
📍 4141 N Regal St.Spokane, WA 99207
🌐 www.ConnectWithNEWTech.com

Washington State Skills Centers are an integral part of the education K-12 system, operating as an extension of the high schools within a local region. The primary purpose of Skills Centers is to give students the academic and work skills to successfully enter the job market or advanced education and training. Skills Centers provide cost-effective, quality job training in programs that would be too expensive to offer at every high school.

Did you know there are 17 Skills Centers in WA state? We will be introducing all of our skills centers over the next few week! To learn more #followalong!

Our Mission
✅Our mission ensures that all students acquire leadership, academic, and industry-defined skills and are prepared for all post-secondary options after high school.

Our Vision
✅Skills Centers are regional secondary schools that provide extended, industry-defined technical education preferred for its high quality, flexibility and advantages for workforce placement and advancement.

Our Goals
1️⃣School Reform: To position Skills Centers as key partners with school districts, resulting in increased student achievement in an ever-changing school reform environment.
2️⃣Data-driven Decision-making: To implement data systems that drive continuous improvement.
3️⃣Legislation/Funding Initiative: To preserve and expand funding for Skills Center cooperatives during the Legislative Session.
4️⃣Long-term Capital Funding: To develop and incorporate into State Board of Education/Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction policy/rules language for future capital construction needs.
5️⃣Marketing: To develop understanding among stakeholders of the benefits provided by a Skills Center education.

To learn more and see a full list of our schools and program options check out our website!
www.washingtonskillscenters.org
New Market Skills Center #meetourschools #skillscenters #washington #EducationMatters #purpose #passion #purposewithpassion #CTE