Career and Technical Education.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a planned program of courses and learning experiences that is delivered through programs at middle and high schools, through approved online courses, and at skill centers, the regional instructional venues that provide students with access to comprehensive, industry-defined programs.

Core Plus.
Core Plus is a two-year CTE instruction program that is designed to prepare students for a structured pathway to employment in one of three sectors:  aerospace and advanced manufacturing; construction; and maritime.  Core Plus instructional materials are vetted by industry partners and are approved for classroom use by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).  Administrative and funding provisions for Core Plus are established in the state's biennial budget, not in statute.

Temporary Task Force.

Legislation enacted in 2024 established a temporary statewide career and technical education task force within the OSPI.  The 10-member task force is charged with developing recommendations for:

• expanding and strengthening the accessibility, stability, and uniformity of secondary work-integrated learning opportunities;
• the successful administration and operation of Core Plus programs through appropriate collaboration with industry sector leadership from program areas; and
• a Core Plus model framework that can be used to guide the expansion, establishment, and operation of Core Plus programs.

The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, and the State Board of Education by November 15, 2025.

Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping.

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), prescribes minimum standards relating to training, certification, and watchkeeping for personnel on seagoing ships.  The STCW requirements have been incorporated into federal regulations and policies for certain personnel.  Additionally, the STCW basic safety course is widely required by employers for working seafarers.

The findings and recommendations of the temporary statewide career and technical education task force must include recommendations for opportunities that lead or articulate to public and private postsecondary education programs approved by the United States Coast Guard for awarding the standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping credentials.