 February News
WAVE award launches, help spread the word to CTE students
The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship application is open for 2025! The award recognizes high-performing career and technical education (CTE) students at both the high school and community-and-technical college level. Many factors determine awards, including appropriated funding from the state Legislature and where students go to school. At a minimum, students will receive about $3,900 per year, for two years, or $7,800 total. 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.
Workforce Board to hold virtual Feb. 18 meeting
The Workforce Board will hold a remote meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Board will hear a presentation from the Department of Commerce about the Community Reinvestment Program, learn more about next steps in efforts to make credentials more transparent and navigable, and get progress updates on Talent and Prosperity for All, or TAP, legislative agenda. Get more details and a link to the meeting.
New workforce system poster available now!
The Workforce Board’s popular workforce system poster is freshly updated and ready for 2025. 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 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, today.
Public comment open for Perkins State Determined Performance Levels
Now is the chance to weigh in on 2026 performance indicators as part of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, a federal plan that 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. Public comment ends March 14. Email your comments to the agency’s Perkins team. Please include “Perkins” in the subject line.
We’re deep in the heart of the legislative session. But don’t be so busy you don’t make time for the latest workforce news. And hey, why not share it with a friend (or two).
We'd love to hear from you! Email me at marina.parr@wtb.wa.gov.
Marina Parr
Director of Workforce System Advancement
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