Snoqualmie Valley School District outlines CTE offerings, reports 1,475 industry certifications this year

Michelle Chaney, career and technical education director for the Snoqualmie Valley School District, told the Economic Development Commission on June 18 that the district’s CTE (career and technical education) programs now include 71 courses and reach students from middle school through high school.

"We offer 71 courses amongst many program areas and national career clusters," Chaney said. She told commissioners the district served 1,796 students in CTE classes in the 2024–25 school year and that the high school’s enrollment is about 2,200 students.

Chaney said Washington state requires every student to complete at least one credit of CTE to graduate (typically two semesters) and noted a 2019 change in state law that allows students who complete two or more credits in a single CTE pathway to meet a graduation pathway requirement. "A few years ago, I think it was 2019, the state passed a law ... students who complete 2 or more credits in a CTE pathway can also use that as their graduation pathway," she said.

The presentation described six state career pathways offered in the district: agriculture, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, STEM, health sciences and skilled and technical sciences. Chaney said many CTE classes are "dual credit," meaning they can count toward high school graduation requirements while also granting college credit.

Chaney highlighted industry-recognized credentials earned by students, and said Mount Si High School students earned 1,475 industry certifications this year. "As of yesterday ... at Mount Si High School, 1,475 industry certifications were earned — just this year," she said. Examples she listed included Adobe Certified Associate credentials, CPR certifications and UScience welding credentials that document student competencies even for students under age 18.

She described extended leadership components tied to CTE — student organizations such as DECA, SkillsUSA and the Washington Sports Medicine Association — and explained that work-based learning (guest speakers, field trips, job shadows, internships and school-based enterprises such as a student-run cafe and greenhouse) is central to the program. Chaney said the district is working to expand internships and job shadows with local employers and plans to provide a QR code with contact information for businesses interested in partnering.

Commissioners asked about internship logistics, resourcing and outreach. Chaney said internships can be paid or unpaid and that the district conducts background checks and provides a worksite learning coordinator to manage placements. On resourcing and awareness, she said public outreach is ongoing: "We do a lot of social media about our programs ... we're continually continuing to grow and do more and more and get our word, you know, get our story out there about our programs."

Why it matters: commissioners said the district’s CTE pipeline is directly relevant to the local labor market, workforce housing and business recruitment. Several commissioners described hiring local graduates and urged continued outreach to employers to place students in job shadows and internships.

Chaney urged commissioners or business members interested in advisory roles or internship partnerships to contact her via the Snoqualmie Valley School District website’s CTE program page. The presentation was informational; the commission took no formal action.

Ending: Chaney left commissioners with a senior survey summary showing a variety of postgraduation plans (four‑year college, community college, trade school, apprenticeships, military, gaps years and work), and repeated contact details and the QR code offering ways for businesses to connect with the district.