2022 legislative wins for college access in Washington state

From significant mental health funding to broadened financial aid outreach to dual-credit course expansion, the 2022 Washington state legislative session presented urgent opportunities to ensure adequate student support following the widespread impact of the pandemic. We are happy to report alongside our College Promise Coalition partners that this year’s legislative session resulted in many triumphant wins for improving college access and affordability.

“This visionary legislation will significantly impact the educational opportunities of the underserved population CSF serves,” said Juliet Schindler, CSF’s director of public affairs and strategic partnerships. “This includes students from low-income families, first-generation students, students of color, and students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness.” 

Progress for college access & affordability

Several new state policies and investments will support students’ educational success as well as their needs as they work to complete a credential after high school. Of those that fall under our 2022 Washington state legislative priorities, these wins include:

• HB 1835: New money will support more students to complete their financial aid application through awareness campaigns and direct outreach. 

• HB 1664: More communities will be able to build local partnerships between K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, community-based organizations, and employers to provide students the individualized outreach and support needed to enroll in and complete education after high school.  

• SB 5789: More students are now eligible for the full Washington College Grant, and eligible students may also receive  $500 grants to help cover non-tuition expenses.

• HB 1736: Establishment of a state, need-based student loan program with 1% interest rates to resident students with financial need.

• HB 1867: Expands access to opportunities allowing students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. More agencies will be added to contribute to the annual dual credit report to the legislature thereby expanding categories of data reporting and disaggregation.

• HB 1955: Expands and makes consistent across statutes the definition of students who are the subject of a dependency proceeding.

• SB 5720: School districts will be required to adopt financial literacy goals for students and a grant program is established for integrating financial literacy education into professional development for certificated staff.

These historic legislative wins for college access and affordability would not be possible without the essential stewardship of Representatives Slatter, Hansen, and Sullivan, Senator Randall, as well as other legislative leaders. Because of the relentless work of these elected officials, more Washingtonian students will be prepared to succeed throughout their higher education journeys and pursue the growing economic opportunities within our state.

Keeping federal policy priorities front & center

From a federal perspective, the fiscal year 2022 bipartisan budget deal earmarked a $400 increase to the maximum Pell Grant–signing into law the largest Pell Grant increase in a decade. This law increases the maximum Pell Grant to $6,895. But there is still work to be done.

Our major federal policy focus is included in the Biden Administration’s fiscal year 2023 budget proposal. In the proposal, President Biden has expressed a commitment to strengthen the Pell Grant program to a maximum amount of $8,670 per student for the 2023-24 award year, an amount nearer to our larger goal of doubling the Pell to restore its purchasing power and make college more affordable.

In addition, the proposal outlines budgetary needs to bolster student pandemic response and recovery, address the opportunity gap for marginalized students, and historically invest in higher education pathways and financial aid. More specifically, the 2023 budget proposal accounts for expanded federal student aid access via Pell Grant eligibility and for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Also prioritized is the funding of the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), which is critical to ensuring implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act and the FUTURE Act for the 2024-25 award year.

A great deal depends on our continued advocacy for a more equitable education system. As the U.S. Congress begins determining budget appropriation levels in October, we will continue to voice our vision loud and clear that a college degree should be attainable for all.