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FAQ

As a state-approved interdistrict CTE consortium, WANIC's primary mission is to provide quality, diverse, and cost-effective career and technical education for all students through interdistrict cooperation.

Summer FAQ can be found here

Frequently Asked Questions

What is WANIC Skill Center?

WANIC Skill Center offers high quality tuition-free technical and professional training for high school Juniors and Seniors. These year-long, advanced-level Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are based on rigorous academic and industry standards and prepare students for career and college readiness. WANIC programs offer dual credit opportunities (both high school and college credit) and/or lead to industry certifications. Programs are designed in three period blocks allowing extended time to not only learn the theory of a subject, but to also get authentic hands-on lab experience. All classes earn Occupational/Career & Technical Education high school credits and may offer other course equivalencies towards high school graduation requirements.

WANIC operates as a cooperative consortium of seven local school districts. Member districts are: Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Riverview, and Snoqualmie Valley. WANIC serves as a branch campus of all area high schools providing programs that would normally not be offered in every comprehensive high school due to high operative and equipment costs or not enough student enrollment at the school. Instructor to student ratio is low in several skill center programs, allowing the Skill Center staff the time to get to know each student and address their unique learning styles.

WANIC Skill Center is one of 14 Skill Centers in Washington State.

Who Can Attend?

  • Students from consortium area high schools, who have not earned a high school diploma.
  • Home-schooled and private school students who are registered with their local WANIC Consortium school district who have not earned a high school diploma.
  • Out-of-consortium high school students may be eligible on a space available basis with a signed shared student agreement. Contact the WANIC office for more information.

What are the eligibility requirements to attend WANIC Skill Center?

These are basic eligibility requirements for WANIC full-year programs:

  • Student must be (and remain) actively registered at sending school.
  • Grades accepted: 11th and 12th grade (some programs will accept 10th graders, if approved by sending school and if space available)
  • Parent/Guardian create account and submit application here: Full Year Courses (application link will be visible only during the application window)
  • Sending school (Career Specialist or counselor) must approve application before it will be considered for enrollment
  • Applicants to DigiPen programs must attend a DigiPen Info Session (held monthly via Zoom).
  • Some programs have pre-requisites. More information can be found on the Full Year Courses page.
  • If student has accommodations on a 504 or IEP, sending school support team must meet with WANIC Special Services coordinator before WANIC can proceed with the enrollment process.
  • If student will be enrolled in an adult transition program, sending school support team must meet with WANIC Special Services coordinator before WANIC can proceed with the enrollment process.

How is the program funded?

In the spring of 2007 new language related to the Skill center student FTE was adopted. The new rules allow for the following: Taken from the 2007-2008 Enrollment Reporting Handbook, Page 17 - 18 2. If a student enrolls in both a high school and a Skill center, they may be claimed up to a total 1.60 FTE based upon their enrolled hours. The 1.00 FTE limit applies separately to the high school FTE and the Skill center FTE. If a student enrolls in Summer Skills Academy which claims a .1 FTE, this will be factored in to the student's previous academic year FTE. Example 1: A student is enrolled in the Skill center for three hours a day, five days a week and also is enrolled in their high school for three hours a day, five days a week. The student’s FTE would be split as follows: 0.60 – for the Skill center 0.60 – for the high school Example 2: A student is enrolled in high school six hours a day, five days a week and also is enrolled in the Skill center three hours a day, five days a week. The student’s FTE would be split as follows: 0.60 – for the Skill center 1.00 – for the high school What does this mean for the skill center student?

  • Provides state funding for additional options for zero hour and 7th hour academic support classes at both the Skill center and at high schools
  • Provides state funding for options for late afternoon expansion of course offerings at WANIC, i.e. 2:45 – 6 PM, Monday - Thursday

Reference: 2007-2008 Enrollment Reporting Handbook, Page 17 – 18

How does Summer School operate?

WANIC summer semester is an opportunity available to high school age students including incoming freshman. Summer classes are generally 6 1/2 hours a day for 13 days. Classes range from:

  • Introductory classes of our existing programs. Students take these to get a taste of what the class is.
  • Classes offered to allow students the opportunity to take classes that they may not have been able to fit into their schedule and for students to work ahead to open space in their schedule to attend a full WANIC program.
  • Grade earned will be transcribed on the student's permanent high school transcript. This is not optional including for rising ninth graders as OSPI WAC 392-415-070 requires all attempted high school classes be reflected on the student's transcript. 

Enrollment begins in the spring (check the home page for details). Most classes starting right after school is over. For up to date WANIC summer school information please see the WANIC Summer webpage.

 

Are College Credits Available?

Students at WANIC Skill Center can earn college credit through Pacific NW College Credit Formerly Tech Prep, a Dual Credit program. The majority of the Tech Prep agreements are with Bellevue College and Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The Pacific NW College Credit articulation agreements allow students to earn college credit if they maintain an 85% or better over the course of two semesters. The Pacific NW College Credit program provides a number of benefits to students, parents and teachers. Some of those benefits include the following:

  1. Students can earn college credit for professional/technical courses taken within the high school that are managed through the articulation process.
  2. Students can streamline their secondary and post-secondary education by not enrolling for coursework that repeats competencies they have already gained through high school classes.
  3. Students can spend less on tuition, fees, and books.
  4. Students can generally use up to 15 credits of professional/technical coursework toward their transfer degree if they choose to continue on to a four-year university. As in all cases the post-secondary institutions have the final say on acceptance of any credit .
  5. Tech Prep promotes a smooth transition for students from secondary to post-secondary institutions.
  6. Students can gain higher skill levels - while not spending valuable time in college retaking courses already completed in the high school.
  7. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges reports that students who receive dual credit: (1) generally show a higher grade point average than their peers while in college, (2) are more likely to transition to their local community college, and (3) are more likely to stay in college.

Equivalency Credits

All programs at the Skill center offer successful completers 1.5 Occupational Education/CTE or Elective credit per semester. Most of the programs at WANIC offer an equivalency credit option as well. All students enrolled in the program complete the work required for the equivalency credit whether they need towards graduation requirements or not. Instructors keep grades for each of the equivalencies their program offers. These credits are reported each semester to the home high school.

What are the Discipline Procedures?

WANIC Skill Center is an extension of the home high school and works cooperatively in regard to discipline consequences. As an example, when a student receives a suspension from their home high school, they are suspended from WANIC Skill Center too. If there is a discipline issue while the student is in attendance at WANIC, it will be referred back to the home high school per the consortium agreement. Communication is essential to the success of the process. It is also requested the home high school communicate with the WANIC Skill Center office if a student is suspended or expelled at their high school so that we can enforce the suspensions or expulsion at WANIC as well.

What is the process for students entitled to Special Education/504?

WANIC is a preparatory career and technical education school designed to prepare students for employment and post-secondary training and is not designed, by definition, to serve as an exploratory program. WANIC has established the following guidelines to promote communication and processes that streamline the availability of service to students with special needs in their preparation for a career and technical education. The guidelines are also designed to enhance each student’s success.

1. Communicate information regarding disability status (SPED, 504 etc.) for students who have been identified as needing special services. Before the student attends a WANIC program, the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and most recent psychological evaluation records need to be submitted to WANIC.

2. Each school district or high school will designate a special education/needs person to act as the contact person for the Skill Center regarding issues/needs relating to special education/needs students from the sending high school or district. The WANIC Special Education Liaison /or designee will serve as the Skill Center contact person(s).

3. All Skill Center students must be able to demonstrate safe working behaviors and habits as evidenced by passing program related safety assessments and instructor observations.

Who is eligible for WANIC programs?

Programs are open to students in WANIC's seven member school districts: Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Riverview, and Snoqualmie Valley. Students who live outside of those district boundaries may participate on a space-available basis with permission from their resident school district.

Which grade levels are eligible to take courses through WANIC?

In general, students are enrolled in grades 11 or 12. Exceptions to this should be reviewed with the student's counselor. WANIC's Summer Semester is available for students entering grades 9 - 12.

What is the duration of classes?

Skill Center classes are year-long and run Monday-Friday. 

What is the process to schedule the WANIC class with classes at the high school?

Your course schedule must be arranged and approved with your counselor. Class and travel time should be considered. Information is subject to change; please verify with the school hosting the class.

What credits are available?

Occupational education credits are earned based on class hours involved with each course. Some classes offer equivalency credit (i.e. math, science, etc.) Many WANIC classes are eligible for college credit through Pacific NW College Credit formerly Tech Prep.

What is the cost?

No tuition. Lab fees may apply. Financial Aid through Washington State's Barrier Reduction Funds may be available for qualifying students.

Does WANIC provide transportation?

Students must provide their own transportation. Parking options vary by the location offering the program and it is the responsibility of the student to learn if parking permits are required and available.

How does the WANIC program prepare students for post high school?

Advanced training, employment preparation, and experience in a career field are available to students while still attending high school. Students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and practice reading, math, and written and oral communication skills related to the workplace through integration of these skills into the curriculum. Many classes also offer advanced placement options at area community and technical colleges.

What is WANIC’s Withdrawal Policy?

If a student withdraws before the first day of class, the course will not be reflected on the student’s high school transcript. If the student attends the class and withdraws during the first 10 school days of the semester, the class will be included on the high school transcript with a mark/grade of “W” (Withdraw). Please see Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-415-070  for information regarding mandatory high school transcript contents. “W” does not impact the student’s GPA. If the student withdraws after the first 10 school days of class, the mark/grade of “N” (No Pass) is used. WANIC’s Director may consider special circumstances for issuing a “W” mark/grade after the 10 school day window has passed.

 

Questions?
Contact WANIC by emailing wanic@lwsd.org or calling 425-739-8400.

 

Who is eligible?

For funding and reporting purposes, students must be registered in a public school in the Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Riverview, Snoqualmie Valley school districts. Private and homeschoolers, please register with your local high school and inform them you are doing so to participate in WANIC.