Granite Falls highlights CTE gains while investigating sharp drop in dual-credit participation

Jocelyn Jensen, Granite Falls School District’s CTE coordinator, gave a wide-ranging CTE update Feb. 11, telling the board career-technical classes are full, students are staying in courses and regional competitions are resuming.

Jensen said the district bought new equipment this year — including CPR training manikins for health-science classes — and has active CTSO participation across middle and high school programs. She listed current CTE staff and program areas across district campuses and said stability and higher standards are the immediate priorities before any major expansion.

A central concern Jensen highlighted was a decline in dual-credit participation: “our dual credit participation dropped from 85% in 2024 to 59.4% in 2025,” she said, adding that initial review points to communication and enrollment barriers that prevent students from completing required steps with partner colleges. Jensen said the district dropped only one articulated course this year and that she will investigate where the participation decline occurred and return with findings.

Jensen also described industry partnerships as key to next steps. She said a renewed connection with Boeing workforce programs could create qualification pathways for students in construction-trades courses, allowing graduates to move into entry-level industry positions with instructor recommendation.

Board members pushed for clearer communication to families about dual-credit enrollment deadlines and volunteered to serve on advisory committees or help bridge industry relationships. Jensen said changes will require ongoing, multi-year work and emphasized the district’s aim to build active advisory committees, stronger work-based learning and consistent IRC/dual-credit pathways.

The board did not take formal action on program changes; Jensen said she will report back with greater detail and recommendations at a future meeting.