Welcome to Career Connect Washington
Thank your legislators for supporting career connected learning!
Thanks to the support of the Legislature and Governor Jay Inslee, we are moving full-speed ahead on developing a comprehensive, statewide system for career-connected learning that will provide opportunities for students across Washington.
With passage of the Workforce Education Investment Act, we are taking a big first step to our goal of ensuring every student in our state has access to a range of career connected learning opportunities. This couldn’t have happened without the help of our supporters and everyone who took time to send a message to their legislators — thank you!
If you’d like to take a moment to thank your legislators, please use this button to send them an email.
Real World Skills
Real World Experience
Real World Success
Governor Jay Inslee created Career Connect Washington to bring together business, labor, government and education leaders with one goal: to improve the ability of young people to connect with high-demand, high-wage careers in Washington.
2019’s Workforce Education Investment Act allows us to:
- Build regional networks that will connect employers and educators, working together to develop training programs with both workplace and classroom components
- Build education and training curriculums that will prepare students for today’s careers
- Increase enrollment in both existing and new career connected learning programs
- Develop new registered apprenticeships in information technology, health care, advance manufacturing and construction.
“We must change the script on how young people plan for their futures. The jobs of today and tomorrow are going to need a workforce with an advanced level of preparation, and it is essential that young people get exposed to that earlier in life.
“A variety of opportunities including job shadows, apprenticeships and internships can help young people make the most of their next steps, whether it’s higher education, advanced training, employment or a combination of all three. Career-connected learning gives students practical work experiences that help them move forward with determination and purpose, no matter what path they choose.”
“It helps kids be able to make a plan and get to know their abilities for direction. They can go in and say, ‘Whoa, this is not me at all,’ or ‘Maybe this is the thing.’”
“Their on-site ‘learning’ environment seemed to be a great bridge into the working world which can seem very different from high school.”
“My kids will hear about my job, but they are not going to hear about jobs that have come into existence like since I started working. So I love that it gave exposure to things they didn’t know was even a job.”
“I like the idea of giving young people an opportunity to get their hands dirty. You can only learn so much in a classroom.”
“Getting college credit while avoiding a lot of debt would be particularly nice.”
“This solves the famous complaint teachers get: ‘When am I going to use this in real life?'”
“Career-connected learning opportunities are essential to advancing equity in all Washington state communities. By exposing young people to a broad variety of careers, by showing them the path forward, and by supporting their education and training needs, we can connect young people of color to high-quality jobs across industries. Education and training options give youth and families needed ways to explore the future. Equally important is the fact that these exploratory programs don’t take away any opportunities—young people can earn while they learn in an apprenticeship program and continue to advance themselves through training and higher education.”
“A career connected learning system that includes apprenticeships, mentorships, job shadows, and hands-on learning will allow businesses to meet their workforce needs and youth in our state to be prepared for great careers.”
Contact Career Connect Washington
Please use the form below to contact us. You do not need to submit a message; however, please do fill in a “Subject Line” to give us a better idea of your interest in Career Connect Washington. Thank you!
