Item No. 11b _Attach2
Meeting Date: September 28, 2021

MOTION 2020-05: 
A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
supporting the recommendations in "A Changing Tide" that align
with the port's Century Agenda goal to use our influence as an
institution to promote workforce development. 
ADOPTED 
MARCH 10, 2020 
INTRODUCTION 
The Port of Seattle Century Agenda states that the port shall use our influence as an institution
to promote workforce development. 
In July of 2019, the Port of Seattle led the creation of a strategic action plan to generate
stakeholder engagement and to produce a final case statement for the development of a
maritime and ocean sciences high school. The case statement recommended furthering the
development of a maritime and ocean sciences high school. 
Highline Public Schools, the Port of Seattle, and a diverse group of industry, tribal, government,
community, labor, education, and youth leaders are currently working to identify how to equip
students who are furthest from economic opportunity and social justice for the climate-adaptive,
new-economy jobs in our region. The port invested $50,000 in 2019 to create a strategic action
plan, to generate stakeholder engagement, and to produce a final case statement on the project.
The port has set aside $100,000 in 2020 to continue this work as it transitions to the leadership
of Highline Public Schools.
TEXT OF THE MOTION 
The Port of Seattle supports the recommendations in "A Changing Tide" that align with the port's
Century Agenda goal to "use our influence as an institution   to promote workforce
development." The recommendations include planning and further feasibility studies for a 
maritime and ocean sciences high school in south King County. Any future Port of Seattle funding
for this project will require commission approval. 
The Port of Seattle also supports the leadership of Highline Public Schools in continuing this work
with local and regional stakeholders and governments to identify how to equip students who are
furthest from economic opportunity and social justice for the climate-adaptive, new-economy
jobs in our region. 

Motion 2020-05: Maritime High School                                                              Page 1 of 3

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION 
The maritime sector is a pillar of the state's economy, but the workforce gap threatens the sector. 
Over 830 maritime businesses in King County provide 19,500 jobs that pay on average $82,800
per year, compared to Washington state's average annual salary of $52,000. The impending mass
retirement of almost a third of the workforce in the next ten years shows a job shortage of
150,000 mariners by 2025. Students of color make up more than 70 percent of students in the
residential areas closest to our state's maritimecluster and have not had equitable access to
these family-wage waterfront jobs. Now is the time to close workforce skill gaps and advance the
next generation of maritime leaders, scientists, and innovators. 
This proposal contributes to the objectives of two initiatives launched by Governor Jay Inslee in
2017: Maritime Blue and Career Connect Washington (WA Governor's Office, 2017a, 2017b).
Maritime Blue aims to bolster innovations in the maritime sector that create living-wage jobs,
protect the environment and ensure sustainability for the maritime industry. A key component
of Maritime Blue is to update and increase vocational training to face the challenge of our aging
maritime workforce. Career Connect Washington aims to connect 100,000 young people to
career-oriented learning opportunities and to ensure that students have multiple pathways to
high-demand, high-wage jobs. Included in this initiative is a priority for better equipping CTE
leaders and supporting customized workforce initiatives. 
The two-prong goal of designing the action plan to establish a Career Launch Maritime High
School and a Maritime Joint Apprenticeship Committee directly responds to these legislative
priorities. Our action plan will include building a curriculum that targets the development of skills
in youth that are not only needed for a successful secondary and post-secondary education but
also for maritime apprenticeships and careers. This action plan will be guided by providing youth
opportunities to develop the skills necessary for a successful future according to the following
standards: 
Washington State Board of Education Graduation Requirements
(https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/graduation/graduationrequirements
/graduation-pathways-toolkit) All youth will develop the skills and
competencies necessary to meet their Washington State High School graduation
requirements. 
Common Core Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/) The
Common Core State Standards are research- and evidence-based learning goals at
each grade level to help prepare students for college, career and life. 
Next Generation Science Standards (https://www.nextgenscience.org/) The Next
Generation Science Standards are a set of research-based K12 educational science
standards that prepare youth for college, careers and citizenship. Scientific literacy is
at the heart of America's ability to continue innovating, leading, and creating jobs for
the future. These standards identify scientific and engineering practices, crosscutting

Motion 2020-05: Maritime High School                                                              Page 2 of 3

concepts and core ideas in science that all K12 students should master in order to
prepare for success in college and 21st-century careers. 
Washington State Learning Standards: Integrated Environmental and Sustainability
(https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/resources-subject-area/environmentsustainability
/integrated-environmental-and) These standards describe what all
students should know and be able to do in the area of Environmental and
Sustainability Education. Consistent with the law governing environmental education
in Washington State, these standards are intended to be integrated into core content
areas and across all grade levels. These standards are particularly relevant for
maritime education and our blue economy that depends on sustainable practices and
ocean ecosystem health. 
National Maritime Center (https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/) The
National Maritime Center is a world class credentialing program that ensures a safe,
secure, economically viable and environmentally sound Marine Transportation System
manned by fully qualified US mariners. As a maritime high school, we will target skills
needed for our youth to meet the credentialing requirements of the US Coast Guard
National Maritime Center. 
World of Work Inventory (WOWI) assessment (https://www.wowi.com/) Persons
entering an apprenticeship must have completed the World of Work Inventory
(WOWI) assessment. WOWI is a scientifically developed, objective assessment that
incorporates three dimensions to uncover optimal career matches. 
Superintendent of Public Instruction Multiple Pathways to Graduation (House Bill
1599) https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/graduation/graduationrequirements
/multiple-pathways-graduation-house-bill-1599) Starting with the class
of 2020, students have an expanded number of ways to show that they are ready for
the next step after high school, a primary new pathway being a CTE pathway. Our
sequence of courses will provide the skills necessary to lead to employment,
postsecondary education and/or an apprenticeship. 





Motion 2020-05: Maritime High School                                                              Page 3 of 3