Agency: 354 - Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

This activity provides administrative support to the Workforce Education and Coordinating Board for all activities and programs, under the Workforce Board’s operating functions. Activities also include facilities management (office space, utilities, building lease and maintenance issues); meeting human resource needs (recruitment, staff development, collective bargaining-health-retirement benefits communications); organizing workplace health and safety events; conducting risk management; motor pool fleet management and employee parking, arranging information technology systems and equipment improvements; and coordination of board meetings (published schedules, locations, transportation arrangements, facilitator contracts, and preparation of meeting agendas).

This activity ensures consumer protection through two main functions:. First, the licensing and monitoring of private career schools operating in Washington is necessary to provide standards for private career schools and to protect students against fraudulent or substandard schools including functioning as a State Approving Agency for Veterans programs, approving and monitoring veterans' educational and training programs at public and private non-degree institutions for veterans utilizing their educational benefits under the GI Bill. Second, the administration of a tuition guarantee fund that protects students in the event of a sudden school closure or the investigation of student complaints with finding of a violation of an unfair business act.

The Workforce Board (Board) is chartered by state and federal statutes to oversee the continuous improvement of the state’s publicly supported workforce development system. The cornerstone of this work is the 2016–2020 State Strategic Workforce Plan titled Talent and Prosperity for All (TAP). TAP brings all system partners together to create a seamless service delivery system. The result will be integrated wrap around services for workers seeking employment and career advancement, in particular those that are facing barriers to employment, while connecting employers with a talented workforce. The Board is responsible for oversight of TAP implementation, and policy development to support institutionalization of new or enhanced practices. The Board has convened six committees, staffed by Board employees, which focus on specific systemic issues, including: improving business engagement, streamlined customer service, data sharing and performance accountability, a common intake process, professional development, and accessibility. Oversight of the work of partner organizations to implement TAP, and developing policy recommendations will be accomplished largely through these 6 committees. In addition to the improvements and goals outlined in TAP, there is often a need to test new concepts or service models before policy recommendations are advanced. This activity category also encompasses grant-funded projects or projects directed by proviso that are classified as continuous improvement projects. These projects include, but are not limited to: Make It In Washington; NGA Policy Academy on Work-Based Learning,; sector-specific skills gap research and analysis, including aerospace and healthcare.