68,000+ certifications and hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition saved

Challenge

Yakima School District needed a way to prove the value and impact of its CTE programs with real, data-driven evidence.

District leaders faced a critical gap in visibility. While students were participating in CTE courses, there was no consistent, evidence-based way to demonstrate growth in student learning or validate the effectiveness of those programs for teacher evaluations and accountability.

At the same time, the district needed to meet state-mandated industry-recognized certification requirements, but many existing options were too expensive, difficult to schedule, or inaccessible for students.

Yakima needed a solution that could validate student learning, provide clear and actionable data, and scale across programs—while also equipping students with credentials that support college credit and career readiness.

Solution

Yakima School District implemented YouScience Industry Certifications, integrating scalable, standards-based certification exams directly into CTE coursework across 96 programs.

These certifications provide pre- and post-assessment data to track student progress and demonstrate growth, while aligning to industry standards and state requirements.

The district uses certification data to support teacher evaluations, report outcomes to administrators and the school board, and align curriculum with real-world expectations. Certifications are also connected to local articulation agreements, enabling students to earn college credit and gain credentials that open doors to jobs, internships, and postsecondary pathways.

Results

• Expanded certification and credential attainment: 68,000+ certifications administered since 2013, embedded directly into coursework to validate student learning and CTE program impact.
• College credit and cost savings: 3,000+ college credits earned through certification-aligned coursework and recognized by local community colleges. Thes earned credits equate to an estimated $350,000–$500,000 in student tuition saved, making postsecondary pathways more accessible.
• Improved educator engagement and program sustainability: Boosted teacher motivation and morale through tangible evidence of classroom impact, helping educators see and measure student success.
• Expanded student opportunity and workforce alignment: Created pathways to jobs, internships, and higher education through industry-aligned credentials. Strengthened employer and community engagement by demonstrating the real-world value of CTE programs.

“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

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