Career and Technical Education.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options and supports basic academic and life skills. Career and Technical Education instruction 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 CTE 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 (task force) within the OSPI. The 10-member task force, which includes the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) or the SPI's designee, representatives from state agencies, and representatives with expertise in CTE issues, is charged with developing recommendations for:
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.
A representative from the Washington State Department of Transportation's state ferries division is added to the statewide career and technical education task force (task force).
The findings and recommendations of the 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 to award the standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping credentials.
(In support) This bill is an opportunity to enhance the way we approach education by connecting to our state's maritime heritage while preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. This bill builds upon the work completed last year through Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2236.
Learning doesn't just happen in classrooms; it happens in shipyards and research vessels, ports, and coastal communities. By integrating hands-on, place-based learning with traditional education in the maritime industry, we can offer students education that is both engaging and relevant.
Career and technical education (CTE) programs are doing good work and should be supported. The CTE curricula and maritime opportunities are being incorporated into opportunities for tribal students. There are 62,000 Washington jobs directly related to maritime and about 112,000 indirect jobs; it is a significant economic segment and the industry can have difficulty filling positions.
Maritime training and education that can be made available through this bill is beyond what is available through the ferry system and will be beneficial for students and the industry.
There is a difference between manufacturing in the maritime space versus CTE Core Plus in the transportation space; the proposed changes to the task force address this issue. Adding transportation perspectives to the task force will greatly expand the opportunities and pathway options for students. The pathways within maritime instruction offer global credentials with outstanding career advancement opportunities, and they resonate with individuals from all cultures of the world.
The maritime sector is vital to our economy and we are facing a shortage of skilled workers. This bill strengthens the collaboration between industry leaders, educators, and policymakers to ensure that our programs remain relevant and responsive to workforce demands.
(Opposed) None.
Representative Clyde Shavers, prime sponsor; Lynette Brower, Washington State Skills Center Association; Tory Gering, Core Plus Maritime; Tim Knue, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; Tony Adams, Suquamish Higher Education Board; Captain Ryan Davis, Legato Maritime; and Brad Tower, Arrow Marine Group.