Background:

Career Connect Washington.

Career connected learning (CCL) focuses on combining class-room learning and work-based learning and can range from job shadowing to registered apprenticeships. In 2017, the Governor created the Career Connect Washington Task Force (CCW) to develop strategies for expanding CCL. The CCW task force members included representatives from business, labor, state government, nonprofit organizations, and education. The CCW task force issued its recommendation in 2018, which focused on building community, education, and industry partnerships; ensuring students have more access to CCL opportunities, including registered apprenticeships; and building a systemic strategic plan to better connect Washington's youth with the education and training employers need.

Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship programs enable individuals to learn trades and occupations through on-the-job training and "related supplemental instruction." Apprentices earn wages while learning their trade or occupation. The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC) within the Department of Labor and Industries establishes program standards, approves training programs, issues completion certificates, offers advice and guidance on apprenticeships, and otherwise governs the programs.

Summary of Bill:

The legislature intends to create a statewide, sustainable career connected learning (CCL) system that addresses: (1) cross-sector coordination; (2) direction of resources to K-12 and higher education to support registered apprenticeships and similar programs; and (3) support for regional coordination between industry and education.

Cross-Agency Work Group.

The CCL cross-agency work group ("work group") is created to coordinate agency functions and external partnerships. The work group must consist of, but is not limited to, representatives from: (1) the departments of Labor and Industries, Social and Health Services, and Employment Security; (2) the Education Research and Data Center of the Office of Financial Management (OFM); (3) the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI); (4) the State Board of Education; (5) the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC); (6) the Washington Student Achievement Council; (7) the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB); (8) one representative of public baccalaureate institutions; (9) one representative of the independent four-year institutions; and (10) the Governor's office.

The work group must, among other things: (1) create clear guidance for endorsing career launch programs; (2) implement marketing and communications agenda; (3) mobilize private sector and philanthropic resources; (4) create a statewide inventory that identifies existing programs to promote equitable participation; (5) develop web sites and resources and coordinate existing resources to inform stakeholders; (6) develop financial support services to increases access for students facing barriers and in underserved communities; (7) address transfer and articulation issues and work to expand portability of credits; (8) establish targets for equity to guide equity-focused criteria in grant funding; (9) develop data systems and protocols for evaluation purposes; and (10) make budget recommendations to the OFM.

Regarding budget recommendations, the work group must direct resources that, among other things, (1) support the K-12 system and the OSPI to increase student participation in CCL programs; (2) support expansion of programs for registered apprenticeships for youth, year-round and in summer programs, and equitable access to dual credit; and (3) support higher education institutions to build capacity at community and technical colleges (CTCs), align the use of work-study with registered apprenticeships for youth, and clarify exclusions from financial aid caps for youth participating in registered apprenticeships.

The work group is also responsible for: (1) supporting the formation of regional networks to guide CCL opportunities tailored to the local needs of students and employers; and (2) developing a data enclave to measure progress and ensure equity of opportunity, led by OFM's Education Research and Data Center.

The Governor's office may contract with entities to provide staffing support. The work group must meet at least six times during the calendar year and report its progress annually to the Governor and appropriate committees of the Legislature.

Grant Program.

The CCL grant program is established to be administered by the Employment Security Department (ESD). The Governor's office must work with ESD to establish grant criteria and guide the process for selection, in consultation with the work group.

Grant funds must be used for the purposes of: (1) supporting regional CCL networks, in both rural and urban areas, to partner businesses and educational stakeholders; and (2) supporting CCL program intermediaries working within and across regions, to partner with multiple employers, labor partners, and educational sectors to develop curricula for CCL programs.

Applicants for the competitive grant can include, for example, regional education networks, school districts, educational service districts, higher education institutions, workforce development councils, cambers of commerce, industry associations, join labor councils, and other community or nonprofit organizations.

Career Connected Learning Coordinators in Higher Education Institutions.

Subject to amounts appropriated, the SBCTC and the public 4-year institutions of higher education must employ or contract with CCL coordinators that coordinate with regional CCL networks and program intermediaries. The CCL coordinators must engage faculty and institution leadership to, among other things, create new program curricula and opportunities and expand the number of CCL program credits that may be transferred between degree programs in the different sectors.

Funding for K-12 Students.

Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, school districts must be funded up to 1.2 full-time equivalents for career launch programs, for the purposes of allowing students to engage in learning outside the school day or in a summer program.

Other.

The CCL account is created in the state treasury.

Definitions are provided for various terms. "Career launch programs" means registered apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships for youth, and programs that combine the following three elements: (1) supervised paid work experience; (2) aligned classroom learning to academic and employer standards; and (3) culmination in a valuable credential beyond a high school diploma or forty-five college credits towards a two-year or four-year postsecondary credential.