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OSPI
Program Name: Bridging High School to the Workforce Secondary Education and K12 Supports
Primary Contacts: Danise Ackelson Danise.Ackelson@k12.wa.us
Laurie Shannon
Laurie.shannon@k12.wa.us
Website: http://www.k12.wa.us/Secondary Ed/ http://www.k12.wa.us/CTE/JWG
Foundational Legislation: RCW 28A.175.075(3)(a) (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=28A.175.075
Purpose:
The intent of the OSPI Bridging High School to Work Initiative is to create intentional pathways between high school and employment. State funding has been allocated for Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling, Jobs for Washington Graduates, and the Building Bridges program to provide multi-tiered career readiness supports.
Tier 3: The Open Doors Reengagement program supports districts to partner with local workforce development; others have partnered for services by accessing Work Force Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding. Allows students to use Basic Education funding directly for workforce preparation.
Tier 2: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs including work based learning, skill centers, and JWG (our state’s version of Jobs for America’s Graduates) serve as bridges between tier one and three for secondary students and some middle school students. Many of these options can connect students to dual credit opportunities as well as employment.
Tier 1: The High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) is a graduation requirement for every student. It is the foundational tool students use to help create the map for their high school experience, and transition to post- secondary education, employment, and/or service.

OSPI
Purpose/Equity Focus:
The use of the High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) and helping students identify their immediate and long term work/career goals is a fundamental tenant of “Every student ready for career, college, and life.” This creates a road map to create a clear pathway, relevant options, and equitable access. To assist students needing extra guidance and support in their transition planning, Jobs for Washington Graduates (JWG) and Open Doors Reengagement targets those struggling or those that have left the traditional education system by offering case management and connection to community resources.
Key Initiative 16-17 Successes
·∙ 80% of school districts in Washington utilize the state created guidance curriculum, Career Guidance Washington (CGW) to guide
·∙ All students are required to have a High School and Beyond Plan, and the creation of the WSIPC electronic portfolio allows the plan to be easily transferrable for our most mobile, at-risk students.
·∙ All students are required to participate in CTE courses to graduate, but only some access work based learning, skill centers, or JWG
·∙ Increase the number of districts with Open Doors with a work force focus by 10 %
·∙ Partner with Mentoring Works Washington on the creation of the toolkit-connect mentors in the work force to potential employees who are opportunity youth
·∙ Completed the Sector Skills Academy and will continue to push the capstone project forward in King county- sector navigators collaborating with education navigators
Challenges
·∙ Limited staff, time, and funds
·∙ Building relational trust and mutually agreed upon outcomes requires shifts in cultures in both education and workforce with regard to each as other, and opportunity youth in general.
Partners/Resources
Continuous work and projects with various departments within OSPI and outside agencies:
School Districts
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Employment Security
Mentoring Works Washington
WA Workforce Education and Training Board
WA School Counselors Association
Annie E Casey Foundation and Aspen Institute
CCER and the Road Map Project
Work force intermediaries like Skill UP, Pioneer
National Governors Association- redefining work based learning
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