Who We Are
We are business, labor, education, and community leaders who are creating work-based and academic programs for young people to explore, learn, and earn money or college level credit.
Over the next five years, our state will have 750,000 new career opportunities that keep us on the leading edge of global innovation and influence. We have the talent right here at home to fill those opportunities.
We believe all students in Washington deserve a future of purpose and prosperity—and the support necessary to achieve it. So we’re creating opportunities that launch every Washington student into college and career. By weaving education and work together, we’ll build a better workforce, better lives, and a better Washington.
If you would like to learn how you can be involved, please email info@careerconnectwa.org.
Leadership
Executive Leader
CCW Partner Support
Washington STEM (Regional Networks & Program Builder support)
Kinetic West (Sector Leader support)
Data & Learning and Equity
Stakeholder Groups
Below are just some of the organizations who contributed to the planning process.
Aerospace Futures Alliance
Alaska Airlines
Amazon
America Achieves
American Federation of Teachers
Associated General Contractors of Washington
Association of Washington Business
Avista
Ballmer Group
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Boeing
Council of Presidents
Independent Colleges of Washington
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Brotherhood of Machinists 751
The James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation
Jobs for the Future
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Kaiser Permanente
Lakeside Industries
Life Science Washington
Matson Fruit
MacDonald-Miller
Microsoft
Microsoft Philanthropies
New America
Northwest Workforce Council
Pacific Northwest Ironworkers 86
Pierce Co Building and Construction Trades
Professional Educators Standards Board
Results Washington
Saltchuk
SEH America Inc
Siemens Foundation
Service Employees International Union 1199NW
Snohomish STEM
United Food and Commercial Workers 21
Washington Apprenticeship Council
Washington Building Trades
Washington Education Association
Washington Roundtable (Partnership for Learning)
Washington School Counselor Association
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Washington State Board of Education
Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council
Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Washington State Employment Security Department
Washington State Hospital Association
Washington State Labor Council
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Washington State Rehabilitation Council
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
Washington STEM
Washington Student Achievement Council
Washington Technology Industry Association
West Sound STEM
Workforce Snohomish
History of Career Connect Washington
In May 2017, Governor Jay Inslee launched the Career Connected Learning initiative at STEM summit, with the goal of connecting 100,000 Washington youth during the next five years with career-connected learning opportunities that prepare them for high-demand, high wage jobs.
The Career Connect Washington Task Force met from May 2017 to February 18. (The task force work is now complete but information can still be found on the state’s website.)
Over the course of the next two years, Career Connect Washington built upon the task force recommendations and led regional team discussions to explore the needs and opportunities for career connected learning.
In 2018, that research evolved into the design of a statewide system of career connected learning. Throughout the process, CCW leaders continued to meet with key stakeholder groups, conduct focus groups with parents and students, and present at conferences and meetings around the state.
On October 25, 2018, Career Connect Washington released a plan that maps the vision, the framework and the strategic approach to meeting the needs of our young people on a statewide scale. The Governor included funding for the Career Connect Washington Plan in his budget, and in May 2019, the Legislature passed HB 2158, making Career Connect Washington a reality.
The Workforce Education Investment Act is one of the most progressive higher education investments in the country. The act guarantees financial aid for more than 110,000 qualified students in Washington to attend college for free or at a discounted rate. The law also establishes and funds the Career Connect Washington framework.