North Central ESD leads regional effort to strengthen Career and Technical Education programs

The North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) is coordinating a regional effort to support school districts as they complete the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA), a requirement under the federal Perkins V law. The assessment is designed to ensure that CTE programs align with regional, tribal, and local in‑demand industry sectors and meet the workforce needs of North Central Washington.

The CLNA requires districts to conduct a data‑driven review of student performance, program quality, labor market alignment, and equitable access for special populations. It also calls for input from a broad group of stakeholders, including educators, counselors, employers, and community partners. NCESD will host 25 school districts and the Wenatchee Valley Skills Center virtually on May 18th and 19th. Districts have been grouped into 3 working sessions by county. Schools gather and present data to capture insights and perspectives from the community in an effort to ensure consistent student access to skills training across the region.

Linda Dezellem, Career and Technical Education Specialist for NCESD says that she’s found, “One of the greatest strengths of the regional CLNA process is the opportunity to think beyond immediate local needs and capacities and instead envision innovative, future-focused programs for students.” She added that the preparation of the presentations and data analysis helps educators consider data “that might otherwise go unexamined, explore best practices, and collaboratively address barriers to service”. Dezellem looks forward to conversations with community leaders that center on creating meaningful, life-impacting opportunities for students while intentionally preparing them for the evolving workforce.” 

This year marks the fourth time regional districts have completed the CLNA together. The federal process is required every other calendar year for districts that receive enhanced federal funding, which has created a consistent cycle of collaboration since 2020. The virtual convening model allows local leaders to provide input once rather than meeting separately with each district, which reduces the time burden and ensures that neighboring schools receive comparable guidance. The approach also helps districts align their programs while still maintaining local variation in course offerings.

Districts across the region have expanded or refined their programs in recent years. Quincy School District has added a Certified Nursing Assistant program to meet local health care workforce needs. Methow Valley School District features a construction and sustainability pathway that reflects community priorities. Cascade School District offers students coursework in wilderness fire management, a field that is increasingly important in the region. These examples illustrate how districts tailor their programs while still aligning to shared labor market expectations.

The 2025–2026 CLNA cycle emphasizes several areas of analysis. Districts evaluate CTE student performance against state and local targets, review whether programs of study are of sufficient size and quality, and determine whether offerings align with high‑demand industries. The process also requires an equity review to identify access or performance gaps for special populations and outline strategies to remove barriers.

Career and Technical Education plays a significant role in preparing students for local career pathways. Programs aligned to regional industries help students develop the skills and credentials needed by employers and offer one of the state’s nine approved pathways for high‑school graduation. In 2025, 71.5% of the 3,282 graduates from North Central Washington High Schools had completed a CTE course sequence as part of their high school credential, which is higher than the 64.5% of total high school graduates across Washington State last year. The CLNA process helps districts refine these programs to better reflect student interests and local workforce demand.

NCESD will host regional presentations for districts in Okanogan and Grant Counties on May 18 and districts from Chelan and Douglas Counties on  May 19. Individuals interested in supporting the process should contact Linda Dezellem lindad@ncesd.org for details.