The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce joined a national workforce development coalition on July 22 and praised Tacoma Public Schools' career programs as a model for the state.

The Chamber's membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce Coalition makes it part of a network of state and metro chambers partnering with the College Board to connect classroom learning with employer needs.

The Chamber cited workforce shortages across the South Sound as motivation, saying employers need skilled workers to remain competitive.

In its announcement, the Chamber singled out Superintendent Josh Garcia and TPS, saying the district is "demonstrating what workforce leadership looks like" by partnering with employers and embracing career-connected coursework.

The Chamber called TPS "a model for workforce development across Washington."

That characterization reflects the district's existing career and technical education lineup. TPS high schoolers can already access Jobs 253, which provides paid work experiences; the Next Move Internship; the Healthcare Careers Academy; and the GESA High School Credit Union Program.

Students in those CTE courses can earn dual high school and college credits through community and technical colleges, according to the district's website.

A central piece of the national coalition is the College Board's new AP Business with Personal Finance course, a yearlong class launching nationally in fall 2026 that covers entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, management, budgeting, investing, and personal financial planning.

Students who earn a qualifying AP exam score can receive college credit and an employer-endorsed credential.

Families interested in existing career programs or updates on new course offerings can contact their student's high school counselor or visit tacomaschools.org/departments/cte.