How Yakima School District proved the value of CTE—one certification at a time

Introduction

In Yakima County, Washington, the Yakima School District has long been a leader in career and technical education (CTE). But in 2013, they faced a critical challenge: how could they prove the value and impact of their CTE programs with real, data-driven evidence?

They needed a scalable, affordable solution to demonstrate student growth, meet accountability requirements, and help students earn industry-aligned credentials that open doors to careers and college credit.

They found that solution in YouScience Industry Certifications.

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Challenge

Proving student growth and program impact

Yakima’s CTE team, led by CTE Data and Technical Specialist Eric Franz and CTE Director Gabriel Stotz, was searching for a way to demonstrate student growth and meet state-mandated industry recognized-credentials (IRC) requirements. But most certifications were prohibitively expensive, difficult to schedule, or simply out of reach for students.

“We had no evidence-driven data to show growth in our CTE classes for teacher evaluations,” said Franz. “It was also difficult to find certifications that were affordable and attainable for our students.” Yakima needed a solution that could do both: validate student learning and fuel program sustainability through clear, accessible data.

“Originally, we first were looking at IRCs… then when we started looking at the reporting, I said, this is perfect for our CTE teachers to have proof that the kids have made growth in their classrooms for their evaluations.”

Eric Franz, CTE Data/Technical Specialist, Yakima School District

Solution

Scalable, standards-based certification exams

That same year, Yakima partnered with YouScience to implement industry-recognized certifications. Since then, the district has administered more than 68,000 certification exams, integrating them directly into coursework across its 96 CTE programs.

Franz and his team use the certifications to:

• • Demonstrate student growth with pretest and posttest data
  • Support teacher evaluations and boost morale
  • Provide proof of value to administrators and the school board
  • Meet Perkins and state-level CTE accountability requirements
  • Enable students to earn college credit through local articulation agreements
  • Give students a competitive edge with certifications that open doors to jobs, internships, and college pathways—building trust in the value of CTE

Each certification is tied to real standards, which has been a game-changer for Yakima. “The standards are a must,” Franz explained. “I’ve sat down with industry partners and when I show them what students are learning, they say, ‘This is exactly what we’re needing.’”

Franz supports the district by helping educators align curriculum with exam standards, generate reports, and integrate certifications with local college credit pathways. Students who pass specific IRC-aligned courses may earn college credit—and the savings are significant. In one year alone, Yakima students earned more than 3,000 credits, equivalent to $350,000 to $500,000 in saved college tuition.

“We offer college credit for our kids taking our courses, and the IRCs help them get that credit. One year, we had over 3,000 credits earned. That saved students between $350,000 and $500,000 in tuition.”

Eric Franz, CTE Data/Technical Specialist, Yakima School District

The impact

Student growth, teacher motivation, and budget-proof results

The ripple effects have been powerful. Teachers now have concrete proof that their instruction is working, and that’s been a major motivator.

Franz shared a story about a veteran teacher who was close to quitting. After implementing the pre- and post-certification model, she saw more than 30 students pass their exams, and she changed her mind.

“She had a new lease on life. The next year, she said, ‘I want more kids to pass. Can we fill my classrooms?’ That completely changed her attitude.” Students feel the impact too; in confidence, motivation, and opportunity. Some students now call the district office asking for copies of their certifications to bring to job interviews. Others, after passing an exam, suddenly see a path forward to a career or college program they hadn’t considered.

“I had one teacher start crying because she was so ecstatic that her kids made growth. She didn’t think she was making an impact—but she was.”

Eric Franz, CTE Data/Technical Specialist, Yakima School District

• Analyze student growth across programs
• Justify continued funding in tight budget years
• Report to the state and school board with confidence

And when it comes to budget cuts? “This isn’t even on the table,” said Franz. “We’re cutting other curriculums and other tools. We’re not cutting this.”

Looking ahead:

Strengthening workforce and community ties

Beyond the classroom, the Yakima team sees these certifications as a foundation for deeper employer engagement and expanded work-based learning.

“These IRCs give our students a competitive advantage to actually get into jobs,” said Stotz. “They’re resume-builders. Employers have told us directly: ‘If a student has this certification, I’ll hire them tomorrow.’”

“The certifications aren’t just valuable for students. They’re a tool to open doors to internships, jobs, and college pathways—and a reason for the community to believe in the power of CTE.”

Gabe Stotz, CTE Director, Yakima School District

Final results at a glance: