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February 5, 2010
CAPITOL ACTIVITY INTENSIFIES AS SESSION PROGRESS
The focus of attention shifts to floor debates in the next week and a half as the Legislature finishes its initial round of committee work. Find out what workforce development bills are moving--and which ones are not-- on our legislative page (updated daily)
E-LEARNING REPORT PROMOTES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE CURRICULUM
The final report on Workplace Digital contains eLearning best practices, recommendations on increasing student access and methods to increase the number of open course materials that deliver "anytime, anywhere" curriculum to working students.
SEA-KING WDC DIRECTOR TESTIFIES ON SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
Marléna Sessions, chief executive officer of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, testified last month at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services hearing titled How to Save and Create Jobs.
MORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS NEED FAFSA HELP
The recession spurred more students to attend community college. But too few filled out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) in advance, delaying their ability to enroll. Read about the consequences of the enrollment surge in a new American Association of Community Colleges report.
SHORELINE CROSS-TOWN RIVALRY SPURS NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR CTE PROGRAM
It started with Shorecrest High School's video production class doing a music video and challenging their Shoreline District rival Shorewood High to top it. If national attention and YouTube viewings are any measure, Shorewood did just that. Shorewood teacher Marty Ballew and the lead student Javier Caceres have been guests on a national talk show, providing another shining example of the magic of Career and Technical Education programs. See both school videos on our YouTube channel.
January 29, 2010
WORKFORCE BOARD IDENTIFIES SPECIFIC IN DEMAND JOBS
At this week's Workforce Board meeting, members reviewed the list of jobs projected to be in demand. The Workforce Board staff updates its Skill Gap Analysis annually.
SENATE COMMITTEE ACTS ON BUILDING BRIDGES RECOMMENDATIONS
The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee has passed dropout prevention legislation based on the Building Bridges Work Group Report. SB 6403 is now in Senate Rules Committee. To view the work group report, see: To learn more about this and other workforce legislation, see our Legislative Page.
FEBRUARY FOCUSES ATTENTION ON CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Starting with National Job Shadow Day on Groundhog's Day (February 2) and running through National Entrepreneurship Week (February 20-27), February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. Check out the many activities that highlight CTE's role in preparing youth and adults for successful careers at: http://www.acteonline.org/ctemonth.aspx?terms=cte+month
WASHINGTON'S RETURN ON INVESTMENT WORK FEATURED IN WEBINAR
Bryan Wilson, deputy director of the Workforce Board, participated in a webinar recently that highlights the work being done in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington to collect return on investment data on career and technical education. You can find the link to the archived webinar at: http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Activities_IPI.asp
PLUS 50 CONFERENCE TARGETS GROWING WORKFORCE
Workers who are over 50 are expected to grow to 22 percent of the state's workforce by 2030. At the Northwest Region Plus 50 Conference, you can learn from the state's experts on how to help this important workforce upgrade their skills and prepare for a new career. The all-day conference is at Clark College in Vancouver, February 10. Free registration at: https://sites.google.com/site/nwregionplus50conference/
January 22, 2010
JANUARY BOARD MEETING COVERS SKILL GAP, LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
The Workforce Board's first meeting of the year is January 28 at the State Investment Board Office in Olympia. The all-day meeting will include updates on the Workforce Development System Review and the 2010 legislative session as well as reports on the Workforce Board's projections regarding which mid-level skilled occupations are and will be in high demand and the status of the state's health care workforce. Agenda and materials
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ACTIVITY HEATS UP
Next week's hearing schedule includes legislation that addresses the state's competitiveness for "Race to the Top" education grants, port district job training and the Quality Education Council Recommendations. Our legislative web page.
WASHINGTON AWARDED GREEN JOBS TRAINING GRANT
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded an almost $6 million Recovery Act grant to the Washington Energy Sector Partnership, a broad-based public-private team headed by the Workforce Board. The grant will fund three Workforce Development Councils (Snohomish, Seattle-King County & Spokane) to provide training for targeted populations in high demand, professional-technical occupations needed for energy efficiency in commercial and public buildings.
E-LEARNING REPORT PROMOTES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE CURRICULUM
A print version of the Workplace Digital Learning final report is available online. This report contains eLearning best practices, recommendations on increasing student access, and methods to increase the number of open course materials that deliver "anytime, anywhere" curriculum to working students.
NEW STAFF JOIN THE WORKFORCE BOARD
Paul Stern, formerly of the Social & Economic Sciences Research Center with Washington State University has filled an opening on the Workforce Board's research staff. Also, Joyce Ahlering, who previously worked as a policy analyst for the Washington State Senate, will join us as a policy analyst focusing on economic development issues starting February 1.
January 15, 2010
QUALITY EDUCATION COUNCIL APPROVES 2010 LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Quality Education Council has issued recommendations to the 2010 Legislature regarding the process for phasing in last year's education reform bill (HB 2261). See
WORKFORCE-RELATED LEGISLATION
Get the latest information on workforce-related legislation and hearings at our Legislative Report page
RICHLAND NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS REGION'S PARTNERSHIP
Featured at last year's Workforce & Economic Development Conference in Spokane, the Tri-Cities team approach to economic development is put on further display in the most recent newsletter from the City of Richland Economic Development Office. The newsletter also includes an article on WorkSource Columbia Basin.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS IDENTIFY LOCAL IMPACT OF GREEN JOB GRANTS
Three Workforce Development Councils have provided information on how the recently awarded Recovery Act green job grants will affect their communities.
Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council
Workforce Development Council Snohomish County
Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County
STATE BUSINESS RECRUITMENT WEBSITE FEATURES WORKFORCE CONTENT
ChooseWashington.com, the website that showcases what Washington has to offer to businesses considering locating or doing business here, has gone through a makeover with a new look and updated content. Several web pages feature workforce development resources such as the Job Skills Program, Customized Training and Lifelong Learning Accounts.
WORKFORCE ALLIANCE MARKS DECADE WITH A NAME CHANGE
The Workforce Alliance, a national workforce policy advocacy organization, has become the National Skills Coalition. The new name comes with a new office location and website.
January 12 , 2010
HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO HEAR DROPOUT BILLS
This Friday, the House Education Committee will hear the results of Building Bridges Work Group report on recommendations to address the dropout issue as well as bills targeting dropout prevention while Executive Director Eleni Papadakis will be detailing the Workforce Board's budget priorities before the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Committee. For more information on this and other legislative activities.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORY UNDERGOING UPDATE
Workforce Board staff is collecting information from the wide range of programs that make up our state's workforce development system for purposes of updating an online program directory and poster that illustrate the state's workforce development system. Learn more at:
WASHINGTON SCORES RECOVERY ACT GREEN JOBS TRAINING GRANTS
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a new batch of green job grants to 25 recipients across the nation, including $3.8 million to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council in Washington and $5 million to the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which includes a partnership with Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council. See Governor's release.
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPLOYS A CALL BACK SYSTEM FOR CLIENTS
The Employment Security Department has added a telephone service that gives customers the option of being called back instead of waiting on hold, without losing their place in line. Learn more.
ERIC LIU'S GUIDING LIGHT NETWORK HOSTS "CLOSING THE GAP" CONFERENCE
The Guidling Lights Network, founded by Eric Liu who was our well-received keynote speaker at last year's conference, is hosting a weekend conference on the art of mentoring and community-building in Seattle, January 29 & 30.
January 6, 2010
WORKFORCE BOARD OFFICE OPEN ON FRIDAYS AGAIN
The Workforce Board is no longer participating in a pilot project that closes some state offices on Fridays. Office hours are now Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for holidays. As always, you will find lots of information on our website 24/7:
COMMITTEE WILL HEAR UPDATE ON STRATEGIC PLAN/WORKFORCE LEGISLATIVE PAGE ACTIVATED
The Workforce Board will report on progress made in 2009 toward achieving the state's strategic plan for workforce development (High Skills, High Wages) to the House Higher Education Committee, on January 12. We will have a complete calendar of legislative meetings involving workforce issues available on our legislative news page by Friday.
WHY STUDENTS LEAVE COLLEGE & WHAT MIGHT BRING THEM BACK
Young adults who attended college but left without graduating say their need to work and make money was a bigger factor in leaving school than tuition and other college costs, according to a survey by Public Agenda and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They also say flexible scheduling and financial aid for part-time students is as important as cutting college prices.
CONGRESS PASSES UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION
Last month, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill (H.R. 3326) containing several short-term provisions affecting the unemployment insurance program. The bill extends through February and contains an additional $25 weekly benefit, 100 percent funding for the State Extended Benefits program and a 65 percent COBRA insurance subsidy for unemployed workers. Read Department of Labor directive to states on the unemployment insurance changes.COBRA info
FOOD PROCESSOR'S EXPO OFFERS FREE ADMISSION TO EDUCATORS & STUDENTS
The annual NW Food Manufacturing & Packaging Expo at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Jan. 17 - 20 seeks job postings and resumes for its Talent Pipeline and Education Pavilion. Registration fees (but not meal costs) are waived for educators and students. See website or e-mail: expo@nwfpa.org .
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