WISD Invites Voters to Information Sessions on CTE Proposal
Ann Arbor, Mich – The Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) is inviting residents of its constituent districts to learn more about the Career Technical Education (CTE) millage proposal on the November 4th ballot.
“Career Technical Education enhances classroom experiences for every student by connecting their learning to what they love. CTE is about self-discovery and understanding your purpose and place in the world,” stated WISD Superintendent Naomi Norman. “It provides hands-on opportunities and matches students to real world pathways that lead to college and career success.”
Career Technical Education helps students understand why they learn what they learn from preschool through high school graduation. It helps students explore in-demand, high-wage, high-skill career pathways in fields like healthcare, engineering, skilled trades, aviation, automotive, robotics, entrepreneurship, and more. Through CTE, high school students can earn dual enrollment college credit and industry-recognized credentials and certifications. In 2024, Washtenaw CTE students earned 1,395 certifications and 86% of them went on to college after graduating high school.
However, Washtenaw County students have less access to CTE programs than other students across Michigan. In Washtenaw County, access is limited and dependent on which school a student attends: Ann Arbor has 13 unique programs, Ypsilanti has five, and Whitmore Lake has four – all less than the state average (University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab, 2022). The South and West Washtenaw Consortium, which includes Dexter, Chelsea, Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, and Saline, offers 21 unique programs to students, which is still less than school districts like Northville, Kalamazoo and Rochester, which all have 30+ unique CTE programs.
“Students are demanding CTE in Washtenaw County. Over the last four years, high school CTE enrollment in Washtenaw has grown by 69%, plus hundreds of students are on waitlists for programs like health sciences, welding, and building trades,” stated Dr. Ryan Rowe, Director of CTE at Washtenaw ISD.
The WISD is offering a combination of in-person and virtual information sessions:
- Tuesday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom webinar (register here)
- Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 p.m. (register here) - Held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District located at 1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, MI
- Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. (register here) - Held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District located at 1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, MI
Voters residing in the nine school districts served by the WISD will vote on a 1.0 mill, 10-year Career Technical Education proposal that, if approved, would expand new and existing CTE programs and provide additional age-appropriate experiences from PreK-12 that build on each other as students learn and grow:
- PreK: Wonder – Children utilize play and imagination, sparking curiosity about how the world works.
- Grades K-5: Awareness – Students discover personal interests and a sense of self, expanding their view of what is possible.
- Grades 6-8: Exploration – Students explore their interests and skills and match them to potential career pathways.
- Grades 9-12: Preparation – Students connect academic content to careers through real-word, applied and experiential learning and plan for their future.
School districts served by WISD are the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Chelsea School District, Dexter Community Schools, Lincoln Consolidated Schools, Manchester Community Schools, Milan Area Schools, Saline Area Schools, Whitmore Lake Public Schools, and Ypsilanti Community Schools.
“If the CTE proposal is approved by voters, Washtenaw students will have more access to career pathways they want like health sciences, welding, construction trades, engineering, and entrepreneurship, and they will have access to new, innovative programs like drone and aviation technology, electric vehicles, robotics, and more,” continued Superintendent Norman. “We want every voter to have the facts about this proposal and hope they will join us at an information session.”
The WISD Career Technical Education proposal will be on the November 4, 2025, ballot. Voters can learn more about the CTE millage proposal at www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage.