Wenatchee School District expands accelerated pathways to boost postsecondary access

Jake Buchholz, director of CTE for Wenatchee School District, outlined the district's expanding accelerated pathways during a school board meeting, saying the initiative is designed to give high school students earlier access to college credits, industry certifications and career-focused training.

The pathways are intended to shorten time-to-completion and make postsecondary education or credentialing more attainable for students who face family or financial pressures. "When we looked at our data ... 59 % of our students were not going on to postsecondary," Buchholz said, adding that the district's most recent estimate is closer to 57 percent. "So we were like, what is the barrier?" He said the district is building multiple program types so families can choose whether a student pursues an AA transfer degree, a technical certificate (for example CNA or CompTIA certifications), or college-credit courses offered at the high school that transfer to regional colleges.

Why this matters: Board members and staff said the effort seeks to move students toward a "tipping point" where postsecondary training becomes a realistic choice. Buchholz told the board that shortening the pathway's time horizon (for example, to two quarters or a year) can make continuing education more palatable for students who need to earn money for their families.

What the program includes: Buchholz described several specific elements: - College-credit maps tied to local transfer partners and the state's general education requirements (GERs). The district has aligned courses to Wenatchee Valley College and to Central's GERs; 106 students have expressed interest in…