WISD Board Adopts CTE Millage Resolution
The resolution is passed alongside the release of a new Washtenaw County CTE report
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution to place a Career Technical Education (CTE) millage proposal on the Tuesday, November 4, 2025, ballot. The WISD Board trustees shared that they received resolutions of support from all nine constituent school districts in the ISD’s service area, as well as support from the Washtenaw Superintendents’ Association. The 1 mill proposal would be for 10 years, and would support Career Technical Education opportunities and learning experiences from preschool through high school graduation across Washtenaw County.
Through CTE, students explore their interests and skills and then eventually match them to career fields in the real world, such as health sciences, entrepreneurship, engineering, robotics, construction trades, cybersecurity, aviation and aerospace, and more.
“CTE programs bring learning to life through hands-on projects and real-world connections,” shared WISD Superintendent Naomi Norman. “By engaging students through applied and experiential learning, they can discover who they are and what brings them joy, all while earning stackable credentials in high school as they prepare for fulfilling college and career pathways.”
Over the last four years, CTE enrollment in Washtenaw County has grown by 69%, even as overall student enrollment decreases. Additionally, hundreds of students are on CTE waitlists across the county.
“We have heard the call from our local school districts that students want more learning opportunities that set them up for the future, and that can be done through Career Technical Education,” stated WISD Board President Diane Hockett. “It is evident that students are demanding more courses that give them rigorous educational experiences and access to innovative, high-wage, and in-demand career pathways.”
The board resolution also coincides with the release of a new community report on Career Technical Education in Washtenaw County titled, “The Future Moves with Us.” The report is the culmination of several years of intensive research and collaboration with the University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab, local business and industry leaders, government and higher education partners, and the county’s public school districts. It outlines what CTE is and its impact, the collaborative community work since 2019, current barriers to CTE access, a collective vision for Washtenaw County students, and multiple ways to expand access to CTE, including local millage funding.
Washtenaw County public schools currently spend approximately $10.35 million each year on CTE programs using general fund dollars. If approved by voters, the proposal would generate approximately $25 million which would be used to reimburse current CTE expenses, increase access to existing CTE programs, develop new future-forward CTE programs, and expand programming from PreK-12 grade.
“CTE helps students understand their purpose, know their passion, and unleash their potential from preschool through high school graduation. It equips students to chart their own path towards establishing an informed and inspired post-secondary plan,” said Dr. Ryan Rowe, WISD’s Director of Career Technical Education. “Expanding access to CTE countywide will change lives not just for students, but for families and our entire community.”
To read the full ballot proposal language, click here. To learn more about CTE in Washtenaw County CTE, visit www.washtenawcte.org. For more information or to ask questions, contact Washtenaw ISD using Let’s Talk.