1995
144 Students		 Yakima Valley Tech Prep Consortium receives a three year grant to “increase business/industry/labor involvements in providing work-based and employment opportunities and to develop school to work transition programs in cooperation with businesses, unions, trade associations and public organizations”. To achieve this goal, Yakima Valley Tech Prep Consortium partnered with the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce to create the Business Education Partnership.
1996
352 Students & Teachers		 Teacher/Business Exchange was created placing 38 teachers in local businesses to learn about workplace skill requirements and how math, science, technology and communications are used in businesses. An on-line computer resource connection was created between schools and the Chamber allowing the Chamber Coordinator to share information with School-to-Work Coordinators.
1997
536 Students & Teachers		 A website was created giving greater opportunity for students, parents, teachers, and the business community to share up-to-date information about work-based learning opportunities. Students were now able to search the comprehensive selection of opportunities listed by career pathways and title. Applications and evaluations were now sent electronically. Tuesday Teacher Tour program was created allowing teachers to visit local businesses on a monthly basis during the school year.
1998
805 Students & Teachers		 The Business Labor Alliance selected the Business Education Partnership as a model program for the state. Through a grant, a “starter kit” was designed to help other areas implement a comprehensive school-to-career program. Program management software was created which allowed single and multiple users to access information about the program.
1999
969 Students & Teachers		 A grant from the Utility Business Education Coalition (UBEC) brought national recognition to our program’s success. The BEP program was included as of the “Best Practices” for UBEC. Working with Tri-Valley Private Industries Council, our program was expanded to include all school districts in Yakima County.
2000
1396 Students & Teachers		 We were invited to consult for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as they put together their “School-to-Work Tool Kit”. Our program was included in the Tool Kit and recognized as a “Best Practice”. We received a grant to develop a two-week internship for 43 teachers throughout Yakima County. They wrote lesson plans relating classroom learning and worksite applications. These were posted on ESD 105’s website.
2001
1702 Students & Teachers		 A joint resolution by the Washington State House and Senate recognized the Business Education Partnership and its network with government, education, community and businesss as “A working model for grassroots involvement leading to community solutions."
2002
1883 Students & Teachers		 Our first Elementary Career Fair was held at John Campbell Elementary in Selah. Over 600 students visited the 40 booths representing a cross section of careers available throughout Yakima County.
2003
2009 Students & Teachers		 Funding provided by Northwest Community Action Center allowed 14 teachers to spend 40 hours    in medical and dental offices learning about the education and skills required to be sucessful in treating their patients. The lesson plans developed through this experience were posted to ESD 105's website.
The next three years continued the growth of BEP with numbers reaching 4,200 students and teachers participating.
In 2007 after 12 years of growth, our needs extended beyond the capabilities of our specialized computer program and website. We had a new website built for us which could accommodate all facets of our program. It was a year long process, but well worth it.
During the 2008-2009 school year we are launching two new programs three years in the making: Lunch Buddies and Internships, which include components corresponding to the Collection of Evidence alternative to passing WASL. We currently have over 900 businesses and organizations throughout Yakima County providing 1,500 opportunities.