Our mission is to introduce students to rewarding construction careers and develop them for future success in the industry.
This gift to the State of Washington from the construction industry ensures all schools, regardless of size or funding, can offer their students a quality construction program of study.
Developed by the Associated General Contractors of Washington Education Foundation and its construction industry partners, Core Plus Construction introduces students to careers in the construction industry.
Core Plus Construction is a 1080-hour program of study that prepares high school students for high demand jobs throughout Washington State. Students learn real-world skills that give them a clear advantage in pursuing entry-level positions, apprenticeships, post-secondary certificates, or college degrees.
It also offers students access to high school credit options in 3rd year science, mathematics, and English language arts.
The strength of the Core Plus Construction program is that is developed and supported by the Washington State construction industry. Knowledge and skills developed through this program meet the needs of employers while introducing students to companies in their local communities and regions.
Fast Facts
- Launched in March 2020
- Free and open educational resource (OER)
- Serves high school students including out-of-school youth, tribal, and rural communities.
- Students can earn third-year math, science, and/or English language arts credits as well as Career and Technical Education (CTE) credits necessary for graduation in their CPC classroom.
- State-approved graduation pathway (HB 1599 - 2019-20)
- State-approved equivalency framework
- Professional development that provides STEM clock hours - multi-day project-based training focused on the delivery of contextualized math, science, and English language arts content throughout the year offered.
- Recognizes and supports multiple learning styles and utilizes UDL best practices
- CPC schools can apply for state funding (Igrants) to support their construction classrooms
- Developed in direct partnership with employers. Industry support, sponsorship, and engagement are strong
- Upon completion students receive an industry-recognized certificate to outline skills and competencies
Program Numbers
Frameworks
- Three 180-hour high school frameworks
- Two 540-hour Skill Center frameworks
- One 180-hour middle school framework
CORE PLUS Construction is an OSPI certificate-based study program.
The two-year curriculum adopted in the 2020-21 school year is a gift to Washington State from the construction industry and ensures all high schools, regardless of size or funding, can offer their students a quality construction program of study.
The CORE PLUS Construction certificate competency defines the skills students have developed through the program. High school students learn by hands-on projects and, depending on their district, they can earn math, science, English language arts, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and elective credits.
CORE PLUS Construction curriculum opens career opportunities to students through hands-on projects and partnerships with local companies. This program helps students develop communication, problem-solving, time-management, and organizational skills that can be carried from the classroom directly into any workspace. Through this course, students work with multiple teachers and community partner programs to prepare for a variety of opportunities that can be taken to college, trade schools, or even directly into the workforce.
Gain industry supported training and professional development for educators.
The CORE PLUS Construction program provides high quality no-cost, curriculum packages that include professional development for instructors.
The curriculum covers a range of concepts that include: materials science, construction math, estimation, proposal writing, project management, lean construction principles, hand and power tool usage, print reading, basic building skills and knowledge and career readiness tools.
While building scaled projects as part of a team, students develop foundational knowledge and skills, such as safety, hand, and power tool usage, construction print reading and measurement.
Students are prepared for success after high school in pathways of their choice.
After successful completion, students earn the Core Plus Construction certificate.
Core Plus Construction prepares students for the next phase of their career development.
Students learn real-world skills that give them a clear advantage in pursuing:
- Entry level positions
- Apprenticeships
- Post-secondary certificates
- Community and technical colleges
- Military service
- Four-year university degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates
Equity Statement
Core Plus Construction is committed to building a positive, purposeful program so that barriers to high-quality, relevant construction trades education are removed. Diversity among participants is valued and embraced. Student backgrounds (ability, racial, ethnic, religious, gender, gender identity, class, traumatic experiences) do not limit their, or others’ expectations of student outcomes. Our goal is to ensure the program’s resources are free, easy to access, and open to all so that every student achieves what is needed to build a foundation for a successful career in construction and the built environment. The goal of this equity statement is to provide a great construction education for every student.
OUR SPONSORS
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The strength of the Core Plus Construction program is that is developed and supported by the Washington State construction industry.
Knowledge and skills developed through this program meet the needs of employers while introducing students to companies in their local communities and regions.
