It is a systematic approach to education that links students, schools and work places, and prepares young people for continued education and the career of their choice. Work Transition integrates these components with education reform to establish high standards for students and to connect a student's education more closely to his or her interests.
Many young people leave high school unprepared for the career they want to pursue.
They drift from job to job for years before realizing they are trapped without further education and training. Currently, more than half the state's employers have trouble finding qualified applicants with skills needed for jobs that are now available. Today's work place demands individuals who have good basic reading, writing, communication and math skills, and who excel at solving problems, working in teams, and learning on the job. In today's economy, the skills of its workforce are a company's major competitive advantage. No longer are Washington State companies competing only against other companies in the United State, they are competing against companies worldwide.