Workforce Development Newsletters

WAVE AWARD DEADLINE EXTENDED—MORE MONEY, MORE TIME!
The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship application deadline has been extended to March 19 thanks to an investment from the Legislature and Governor to provide additional funds for this year’s awardees. The $500,000 funding package passed this legislative session boosts the dollar value of the award for 2024 scholarship recipients, up to $5,500 per year or up to $11,000 for two years. The award recognizes high-performing career and technical education (CTE) students at both the high school and community and technical college level. The award amount is based on the tuition charged by the institution students attend. The new dollar figure and extended deadline are expected to draw more applicants. Help get the word out at https://wtb.wa.gov/wave/. But don’t delay. Deadline to apply is next Tuesday!

 WORKFORCE BOARD TO MEET MARCH 21 TO TAKE ACTION ON STATE WORKFORCE PLAN
The Workforce Board is expected to hear a legislative update, take action on proposed workforce policies, and discuss and potentially approve the state’s next strategic plan for workforce development, Talent and Prosperity for All-2024-2028, among other items.  Once the Board approves the state workforce plan, it will be submitted to the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education for their review. This in-person meeting runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 21, at Fire Station 95, 5911 Black Lake Blvd. in Olympia. More details coming soon at: www.wtb.wa.gov. More about TAP, including chance to provide public comment: https://wtb.wa.gov/planning-programs/washington-state-workforce-plan/

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SEEKS STUDENT BOARD MEMBER
The State Board of Education is seeking a current high school sophomore (rising junior) to serve a two-year term as a Student Representative. Eligible students should have a passion for improving K-12 education and be able to devote sufficient time, including but not limited to, participating in all scheduled Board meetings. The Board will consider the geographic and demographic diversity of the student’s school and the ability of the student to understand and communicate the experiences of a wide range of students, particularly those who have not been well served by our education system.  More details at: https://buff.ly/3P8H2Xz

STATE LAUNCHES NEW SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITE
The state has launched a new website (Business.WA.Gov) dedicated to helping small businesses connect with available tools and resources to start and successfully operate a business in Washington. Get help with setting up needed accounts with the state’s Department of Revenue, renew a business license, or estimate payroll using this one-stop website. Services are free and available via text, chat, email or phone.

WSAC ANNOUNCED AS WINNER OF GREAT ADMISSIONS REDESIGN CHALLENGE
Lumina Foundation has named the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) one of seven winners of The Great Admissions Redesign, a competition to revolutionize the admissions process and increase accessibility to higher education for all students. WSAC and its university partners, building on the data, analysis and preliminary stakeholder engagement, will design early and effective guaranteed financial aid messaging aligned with guaranteed admissions programs. More: https://tinyurl.com/3reahca7

Workforce Development Newsletters

WAVE AWARD DEADLINE NEARS: HELP SPREAD THE WORD TO CTE STUDENTS!
The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship application is open for 2024—but the deadline to apply is coming soon! The award recognizes high-performing career and technical education (CTE) students at both the high school and community and technical college level. The award covers up to two years of tuition, according to the tuition charged by the institution students will attend— with minimum awards set at $3,850 per year, or $7,700 over two years, although amounts may be higher or lower depending on the institution. Note: A proviso in both the Governor’s and legislative budgets may raise the fund pool and scholarship amounts. WAVE is administered by the Workforce Board in collaboration with the Washington Student Achievement Council, which disburses funds. The application deadline is March 10. See the Workforce Board’s WAVE page for details: https://wtb.wa.gov/wave/

 WORKFORCE BOARD TO MEET MARCH 21 TO TAKE ACTION ON STATE WORKFORCE PLAN
The Workforce Board is expected to hear a legislative update, take action on proposed workforce policies, and discuss and potentially approve the state’s next strategic plan for workforce development, Talent and Prosperity for All-2024-2028, among other items.  Once the Board approves the state workforce plan, it will be submitted to the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education for their review. This in-person meeting runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 21, at Fire Station 95, 59111 Black Lake Blvd. in Olympia. More details coming soon at: www.wtb.wa.gov.

STILL TIME TO SUBMIT COMMENTS ON STATE WORKFORCE PLAN—TAP
The state’s draft strategic plan for workforce development, Talent and Prosperity for All-2024-2028, is online and ready for your review—and comments. But don’t delay! The public comment period closes March 15. Get more details at: https://wtb.wa.gov/planning-programs/washington-state-workforce-plan/ and submit your comments to tap.plan@wtb.wa.gov. Your voice matters!

NEW WORKFORCE SYSTEM POSTER AVAILABLE NOW!
The Workforce Board’s popular workforce system poster is freshly updated and ready for 2024. Make sure to order copies of this handy overview of Washington’s largest, publicly funded workforce development programs, including participant employment rates and earnings, federal and state funding totals, and a list of administering agencies and providers. The poster, printed this year in “Barbie-pink” is also known as “America’s favorite matrix,” at least among staff. The poster is free and perfect for cubicle and office walls. Email us at workforce@wtb.wa.gov to request your own copies. View the poster, including a digital PDF, at: https://wtb.wa.gov/planning-programs/washington-workforce-system/

GOVERNOR ISSUES PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING CTE
Gov. Inslee has issued a proclamation that designates this month as career and technical education (CTE) month, reflecting the national designation of February as a month to celebrate hands-on, career-focused learning in middle and high schools, as well as community and technical colleges. Inslee’s formal proclamation praises CTE for helping ensure that “employers have access to a qualified workforce” and that CTE “offers students the opportunity to gain the academic, technical, and employability skills necessary for true career readiness.” Read the full proclamation at: https://www.wa-acte.org/images/CTE_Month_2024_Proclamation.pdf

Workforce Development Newsletters

WORKFORCE BOARD TO HEAR WAVE SUCCESS STORIES FEBRUARY 15
The Workforce Board will hear directly from students who received a Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship, with a focus on the impact the scholarship is making on both their education and career goals. The WAVE presentation is part of the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, February 15. This in-person meeting will be held at the Association of Washington Business in Olympia, and will also feature talks from AWB president Kris Johnson and April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council. The Board will also receive a legislative update and hear about public feedback to the draft state strategic workforce plan, Talent and Prosperity for All. More details coming soon at www.wtb.wa.gov.

WAVE AWARD LAUNCHES: HELP SPREAD THE WORD TO CTE STUDENTS!
The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship application is open for 2024! The award recognizes high-performing career and technical education (CTE) students at both the high school and community-and-technical college level. The award covers up to two years of tuition, according to the tuition charged by the institution students will attend— with minimum awards set at $3,850 per year, or $7,700 over two years. WAVE is administered by the Workforce Board in collaboration with the Washington Student Achievement Council, which handles the disbursement of funds. The application deadline is March 10. In addition to completing the application, housed on theWashBoard.org, students will need to submit two letters of recommendation and ensure their CTE teacher or instructor signs off on their eligibility via a certification form. See the Workforce Board’s WAVE page for details: https://wtb.wa.gov/wave/

NEW WORKFORCE SYSTEM POSTER AVAILABLE NOW!
The Workforce Board’s popular workforce system poster is freshly updated and ready for 2024. Make sure to order copies of this handy overview of Washington’s largest, publicly funded workforce development programs, including participant employment rates and earnings, federal and state funding totals, and a list of administering agencies and providers. The poster, printed this year in “Barbie-pink” is also known as “America’s favorite matrix,” at least among staff. The poster is free and perfect for cubicle and office walls. Email us at workforce@wtb.wa.gov to request your own copies. View the poster, including a digital PDF, at: https://wtb.wa.gov/planning-programs/washington-workforce-system/

PUBLIC COMMENT OPEN FOR PERKINS STATE DETERMINED PERFORMANCE LEVELS
Now is the chance to weigh in on performance indicators as part of the Carl D. Perkins V 2024-2028 draft plan. This federal plan addresses career and technical education (CTE) at both the high school and postsecondary levels. States are required to set and report on core indicators of performance, including the graduation rate of CTE students, along with academic proficiency in reading, math and science, among other categories. The draft plan includes State Determined Performance Levels (SDPLs), along with proposed targets for the next four years. Public comment ends Feb. 29. Email your comments to workforce@wtb.wa.gov. Please include “Perkins” in the subject line.

ESD WEBINAR FOR NEW EMPLOYERS INCLUDES HELP WITH OCCUPATION CODESThe state’s Employment Security Department is holding an unemployment insurance webinar aimed at new employers from 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. The webinar includes tips on how to file quarterly unemployment reports, information on employer tax rates, and how to include Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, or job titles, in reports. These newly collected codes are helping inform the state on what kind of work is being done in every corner of Washington, enabling the workforce system to better gauge where there are new and emerging skill gaps, along with worker supply and demand issues by region, among other items. More: https://esd.wa.gov/employer-taxes/about-soc. Webinar: http://tinyurl.com/mr2dvfuj

Workforce Development News Releases

WORKFORCE BOARD SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON STATE WORKFORCE PLAN
The Workforce Board seeks broad public input on Washington’s next workforce plan, Talent and Prosperity for All (TAP), 2024-2028. Public comment is open through March 15. Comments can be sent to tap.plan@wtb.wa.gov. The TAP plan helps guide strategic thinking around employment, education, training and related services as part of the state’s publicly funded workforce development system. The plan will be finalized later this spring and sent to the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor for approval. View the draft plan, including an executive summary overview, and get more details at: https://wtb.wa.gov/planning-programs/washington-state-workforce-plan/.

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WA HEALTH WORKFORCE ISSUES
The Health Workforce Council, staffed by the Workforce Board, has issued a new annual report that outlines Washington’s health workforce issues, including employer needs, health professional training program graduation and licensure trends. The report also advances policy recommendations focused on educational debt burden for health care workers, along with access to childcare, housing, and other supports. Read the report at:  https://wtb.wa.gov/planning-programs/health-workforce-council/ (see the box in green on the right). The Health Workforce Council’s main roles include providing updates to policymakers on health workforce program educational output along with employer needs, tracking progress on implementation of new programs, and bringing together key stakeholders to develop and advocate for sustainable solutions.

NEW ROUND OF FUNDING FOR REGIONAL CHALLENGE GRANT
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has announced a new round of funding available for Regional Challenge Grants. Following the selection in 2022 of an initial eight partnerships, WSAC will invest in up to six additional regional partnerships working to increase postsecondary credential attainment to 70 percent in Washington. Grant amounts may range from $50,000 to $450,000 depending on the structure of a partnership and the activities proposed. The new funding cycle is now open, with Letters of Interest due by midnight, Feb. 16. An information session is slated for Feb. 8. More details: http://tinyurl.com/bddh7726

SAVE THE DATE: SKILLS USA STATE LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS CONFERENCE MARCH 22
SkillsUSA Washington is holding a state leadership and skills conference on Friday, March 22 at the McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood. You’re invited to watch skilled and technical students in action, with over 95 competitions across 12 career clusters. More information: https://skillsusawashington.org/championships/. To RSVP for a VIP tour: http://tinyurl.com/2xc6ukbr. Questions? Contact karmen@skillsusawashington.org.