Washington State Skill Center Association

💫Meet our Schools!💫
Introducing 🌟Cascadia Tech Academy🌟

Learn More!
📱 360.604.1050
📩 info@cascadiatechnicalacademy.org
📍 12200 NE 28th StreetVancouver, WA 98682
🌐 https://www.cascadiatechnicalacademy.org

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

1. School Reform: To position Skills Centers as key partners with school districts, resulting in increased student achievement in an ever-changing school reform environment.
   Data-driven Decision-making: To implement data systems that drive continuous improvement.

2. Legislation/Funding Initiative: To preserve and expand funding for Skills Center cooperatives during the Legislative Session.

3. Long-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.

4. Marketing: 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

There's incredible work taking place at public schools across Washington!

Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses provide students with a unique approach to helping young people build skills and career pathways.

The Anacortes School District along with the Mount Vernon School District and the Northwest Career & Technical Academy, invited OSPI to observe students participating in CTE classes connected to maritime, construction, and aerospace manufacturing.

#WAedu

OSPI FB Post link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16trouF5Ej/

#DidYouKnow #FunFactFriday
Q❓ What programs are offered at NCTA?
A ✅ We offer a variety of interactive hands-on courses to engage students in the learning process and prepare them for college and the workforce. Explore below to discover our diverse course offerings.

✅📍Anacortes campus courses:
Core Plus Aerospace
Core Plus Construction
Core Plus Maritime
✅📍Meridian campus courses:
Early Childhood Education
Fire Science & EMS
Medical Assisting
Welding
✅📍Mount Vernon campus courses:
Animation & Graphic Design
Applied Medical Science
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Fire Science & EMS
🆕Baking & Pastry
🆕Cyber Security
Dental Assisting
Health & Human Services
Medical Assisting
Money & Business
🆕Pharmacy Technician
🆕Peer Counseling
Teacher Academy
Tourism & Hospitality
Transportation & Logistics
Pre-Vet Tech
Video Game Development
✅📍Sedro Woolley campus coursers:
Automotive Services
Core Plus Welding
Learn More or Apply today!
https://www.nwtech.k12.wa.us/courses/
https://www.nwtech.k12.wa.us/
https://ncta.smapply.io/

#welding #automotive #maritime #construction #skilledtrades #vettech #videogamedevelopmnet #culinaryarts #baking #teacheracademy #pharmacy #earlychildhoodeducation #dentalassisting #aerospace #animation #graphicdesign #criminaljustice #FREE #Freeprogramas #highschool #ApplyNow

Important Dates @ Pierce County Skills Center

BUSINESS & MARKETING PATHWAY is one of the career pathways available to a WA state skills center student!

Students learn the technical knowledge and skills to either gain advanced placement in apprenticeships, technical schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities; or go directly to entry-level employment in their chosen career field.

Business and Marketing careers encompass planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. This pathway includes the following clusters:

💫Marketing Sales and Services
💫Law and Public Safety
💫Information Technology
💫Hospitality and Tourism
💫Finance and Business Management & Administration

Learn more and find a skills center near you!
www.washingtonskillscenters.org
#skillscenters #HandsOnLearning #HandsOnTraining #CTE #CareerReady #CareerFocusedLearning #CareerExploration #ProfessionalDevelopment #Enrollment2025 #OpenEnrollment2025 #business #marketing #publicsafety #informationtechnology #tourismindustry #hospitalityindustry #finance #businessmanagement

#FunFactFriday #DidYouKnow

Myth or Fact?

MYTH #5:
All parents of children with significant cognitive disabilities want their children educated in separate programs or classrooms.

FACT:
Inclusive education helps students with significant cognitive disabilities and their families feel a sense of belonging as part of the entire school community.

🎉The Truth Is...

✅ Students with significant cognitive disabilities in inclusive settings build relationships with peers. Creating communities of belonging for students with significant cognitive disabilities and their families is central to meaningful inclusion.

✅ Higher education and/or integrated employment are options for students with
significant cognitive disabilities. Planning with this end in mind supports the need for inclusive education throughout PreK-12.

✅ Post-school transition conversations and planning should start early for students with significant cognitive disabilities and their families, including strong agency linkages with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and/or the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).

STRATEGIES FOR DISPELLING THE MYTH:

💫Engage in meaningful discussions with educators and parents that challenge beliefs about outcomes for students with significant cognitive disabilities when they are educated in inclusive versus segregated settings.

💫Emphasize evidence-based best practices for inclusive education and students’ human & civil rights to non-segregated education. Begin with a meaningful, life long vision statement for the student. Write IEP goals tied to general education curriculum, grade-level standards, and environment.

💫Communicate to families the vertical and horizontal alignment of an inclusion mission, vision, beliefs, and systems that demonstrate commitment to inclusion. Maintain a transparent school culture that includes collaboration, co-design, and strong communication with families.

💫Show evidence of collaborative structures and systems in place that ensure special education, general education, and families are collaborating consistently on a comprehensive education program.

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE FACTS:

-Achieving Inclusion: What every parent should know - Causton-Theoharis, J. & Kasa, C. (2012)
-Taking Sides: Parent Views on Inclusion for Their Children with Severe Disabilities - Palmer, D. S., Fuller, K., Arora, T., & Nelson, M.
-Supporting Students with Severe Disabilities in Inclusive Schools: A Descriptive Account from Schools Implementing Inclusive Practices - Kurth, J., Lyon, K., & Shogren, K. (2021)
-Caregiver Engagement: Advancing Academic and Behavioral Outcomes for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students in Special Education - Whitford, D., & Addis, A. (2017)
-TIES Center Impact Article: From Isolation to Inclusion: Anne's Journey
-UW Haring Center: IPP Demonstration Sites Project: Ruby Bridges Elementary (webinar recording

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

We are back in the office as of August 7th! We have new landscaping, sidewalks and the building looks amazing! It's gonna be a great year at WST! #WSTworks.

Big things are happening!

Crafting Great Denim: Behind the Scenes with Ariat

AGRICULTURE AND SCIENCE PATHWAY is one of the pathways available to a WA state skills center student!

Students learn the technical knowledge and skills to either gain advanced placement in apprenticeships, technical schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities; or go directly to entry-level employment in their chosen career field.

Agriculture and Science careers include the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources. Career clusters include:

💫Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
💫Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Learn more and find a skills center near you!
www.washingtonskillscenters.org
#skillscenters #HandsOnLearning #HandsOnTraining #CTE #CareerReady #CareerFocusedLearning #CareerExploration #ProfessionalDevelopment #Enrollment2025 #OpenEnrollment2025 #agriculture #agricultureworldwide #science #naturalresources #engineering

WHAT TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS DO SKILLS CENTERS OFFER?

Skills Centers provide an opportunity for students between the ages of 16 and 21 or in grades 11 or 12 to receive advanced career and technical training as part of the public educational system at no cost to the student. This provides students with the opportunity to get a jump-start on a post secondary education and future career opportunities.

Students learn the technical knowledge and skills to either gain advanced placement in apprenticeships, technical schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities; or go directly to entry-level employment in their chosen career field.

Skills Centers success rate is high for students going on to further education and for students gaining employment after graduation. Students learn from teachers that come from industry and are able to guide students effectively for their chosen career path.

Skills Centers programs fall within OSPI’s pathway model and align to the Career Cluster Initiative at the national level. Listed below are the pathways and clusters available:

✅AGRICULTURE AND SCIENCE PATHWAY
✅BUSINESS AND MARKETING PATHWAY
✅HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PATHWAY
✅TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY PATHWAY
✅HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PATHWAY

Learn more and find a skills center near you!
www.washingtonskillscenters.org

#skillscenters #HandsOnLearning #HandsOnTraining #CTE #CareerReady #CareerFocusedLearning #CareerExploration #ProfessionalDevelopment #Enrollment2025 #OpenEnrollment2025