Higher Education

Current revenue shortfalls mean that Washington’s institutions of higher learning will need to raise tuition rates if they are going to continue to maintain the quality of the services they provide, and Senate Democrats are committed to easing the impact this will have on the middle-class and most financially needy students through increased access to financial aid.

We also recognize that these same institutions are a major source of the skills and talent on which local businesses rely to remain competitive in the world economy. It is crucial for our economic future to continue developing a pipeline between colleges and employers that will enable us to keep our best and brightest right here in Washington and provide them with the skills they need to enter the workforce ready on day one.

Among the bills we’ve sponsored and passed are Senate Bill 5043 to help more students gain access to higher education by streamlining administration and Senate Bill 5044 to establish rules encouraging job placements in high demand fields such as international trade and international relations.

We’ve also passed bills that enhance the link between the education and training that our institutions of higher education provide and the high-demand skills that our emerging and leading industries need to grow our economy. House Bill 1323 (companion to SB-5048) to require state agencies and local organizations involved with workforce and economic development to coordinate their efforts to assist industry clusters.

To help provide more students with access to the education and training that major industries in our state are looking for, we passed House Bill 1312 (companion to SB-5276) to eliminate the exclusive authority of the University of Washington and Washington State University to grant high-demand engineering degrees.

We’ve also taken measures to use existing resources in an effective way to develop educational and employment pipelines for low-income high school students in high-demand occupations by passing House Bill 1355 (companion to SB-5773), which creates the Opportunity Internship Program. Students chosen for the program will receive internships, apprenticeships or pre-apprenticeships, counseling and up to one year of college financial aid, along with the promise of a job interview if they complete a post-secondary program of study. Local groups that help place students into jobs that pay at least $30,000 per year will be eligible for incentive payments, subject to existing funds, of $2,000.

Finally, we enhanced the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board’s requirement to develop a comprehensive state plan for workforce training and education by passing House Bill 1394 (companion to SB-5316), which requires the board to establish a 10-year plan and provide an update of the 10-year plan to the Legislature and governor every four years.

Together, these measure and others will help ensure that Washington’s institutions of higher education continue to provide our students and workers with the training and skills that will be an asset for the economic future of our state.