U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, recently released a video recorded in Onalaska High School’s shop class that outlined her amendment to make advanced placement (AP) credits available to students for career and technical education classes they take in high school.
Currently, no such credits are available. This can force mechanically-inclined students to decide between taking classes they’re good at and interested in, or classes that make their college applications more competitive, Gluesenkamp Perez stated in a news release.
“While I was able to take AP level photography and sculpture in school, there’s no equivalent available for welding or wood shop. If you’re trying to go into a college program, all these kids can’t afford to take shop class and have a competitive application,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in the video.
“These are as valuable and as challenging as every other academic program you can go into,” she continued. “So, we’re excited to see this roll out.”
To watch the video, visit https://tinyurl.com/593f5m9u.
Gluesenkamp Perez’s proposal was included as part of the manager’s amendment to the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which passed through committee on a bipartisan basis, the release stated.
