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Washtenaw CTE expansion: AAPS highlights county grant, new programs and student success
Summary
Dr. Ryan Rowe and AAPS staff presented countywide career‑technical education growth and a $5 million grant intended to expand regional access to aviation, building trades, cybersecurity and other programs; AAPS staff and students described local CTE partnerships and outcomes.
At the March 18 meeting, Dr. Ryan Rowe (Washtenaw County CTE director) and district CTE staff updated the board on countywide efforts to expand access to career and technical education. Rowe said a $5,000,000 grant will fund consolidation and capacity building so students from all nine districts in the county can access high‑demand programs such as aviation/aerospace (FAA drone certification), building trades and cybersecurity.
Rowe described structural funding differences among counties — for example, counties with a vocational millage can dedicate tens of millions annually to CTE while Washtenaw currently supports 70 programs primarily through general fund and smaller state/federal streams; Rowe said current Perkins and state add‑ons total roughly $1.4 million for county programs and that the grant represents a major new investment.
District CTE leaders detailed partnerships with postsecondary institutions (Washtenaw Community College, Eastern Michigan University, University of Michigan) and local employers (Toyota Research & Development, U of M Health, Liebherr). Chef Sam described a culinary partnership with Zingerman’s and a student pop‑up dinner on April 1 to raise program funds; Aiden Dooley, a Huron senior in the CP culinary program, said the CTE pathway improved his engagement and set him on a hospitality management college track.
Rowe invited trustees to a county CTE summit (WCC Morris Lawrence Building, Tuesday, 10:00–2:00) to review preliminary research and pathways; staff said the county hopes to use polling and community feedback ahead of any November 2025 decision about sustained funding tools such as a vocational millage.
What’s next: The district will participate in the county CTE summit and continue planning around program expansion, partnerships and transportation/implementation logistics.
