In the News

Advancing Access: Legislative victories from the 68th Washington State legislative session

June 2, 2023

The 68th Washington State Legislature officially adjourned on April 23! College Success Foundation actively tracked and supported legislation that affects the students we serve, including bills on college access and career readiness, dual credit, and data sharing. Now that Governor Inslee has signed bills into law, they will become effective on July 23, 2023, unless provisions of the bill note otherwise. Through our collaboration with coalitions such as High School Success Coalition, Project Education Impact and Child Welfare Advocacy Coalition, College Success Foundation government relations team played a critical role in the success of legislation passed during the 2023 legislative session that will help students access a college education. 

Of the 2,302 bills introduced over the course of the 105-day session, 494 bills passed the legislature and were sent to the governor to be signed into law. Below is an end of session summary of the funding highlights and priority bills related to college access and success:

Budget Overview

  • K-12 Education and Higher Education:
    • $521 million for salary adjustment and healthcare cost increase for K-12 educators
    • $417 million for special education students
    • $85 million to expand access to free meals for students
    • $91 million to expand Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program slots and increase rates
    • $90 million for low-interest graduate student loans
    • $13 million to expand access to the Washington College Grant and dual credit programs

Funding Highlights 

  • Universal FAFSA Completion Study
    • The Workforce Education Investment Act (WEIA) in FY 24 provided $100k to the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to contract with Graduate Tacoma to conduct a study on universal free application for federal financial aid (FAFSA) completion. A report is due by November 30, 2023.
  • Regional Challenge Grants
    • In FY 24-25 WEIA willprovide $16M to WSAC solely for expenditure into the Washington career and college pathways innovation challenge program account to continue grant funding for regional, community-based partnerships to advance postsecondary attainment goals
  • Career Connect Washington
  •  In FY 24-25  WEIA will provide $14.51M to the Employment Security Department (ESD) solely for career connected learning grants as provided in RCW 28C.30.050, including sector intermediary grants and administrative expenses associated with grant administration
  • $2.7M from WEIA In FY 24-25 WEIA will provide $2.7M to OSPI solely for the cost of employing one full-time equivalent employee at each of the nine education service districts to support the expansion of career connected learning.
  • Graduation Success
    • ESSER (federal relief) funds will provide $2.2M for Treehouse to implement the Graduation Success program in middle schools . State General Fund will supplement funding when ESSER funds expire.  
  • Washington College Grant (WCG)

The median family income (MFI) was changed to 65% for a maximum award, making more students eligible for increased need-based aid.

Priority Bills

High School and Beyond Planning (HSBP):

  • E2SSB 5243: Concerning high school and beyond planning.
    • Background: This bill requires OSPI to facilitate the transition to and adoption of a common online platform for HSBPs.It specifies requirements for an online HSBP platform and necessitates that school districts provide access to an adopted universal platform within two years of platform development. It directs OSPI and the State Board of Education to submit recommendations on additional policy changes related to HSBPs and repeals provisions relating to student learning plans.
    • Funding: $168K from GF-State ($72K in FY 24 and $96K in FY25) provided for OSPI to conduct a cost analysis and feasibility study on the development of an online High School and Beyond Plan platform, due by September 1, 2024. The budget bill also includes continuation of the $593k proviso (language in budget bills that places conditions and limitations on the use of appropriations) for FY24 and FY25 to support district implementation of comprehensive guidance and planning programs in support of high-quality high school and beyond plans.

Dual Credit

  • 2SSB 5048: Eliminating college in the high school fees.
  • Background: This bill requires institutions of higher education to provide enrollment and registration in College in the High School (CHS) courses at no cost to students in grades 9 through 12 at public high schools. It also directs high schools that provide CHS courses to include information in the course catalog, and to notify parents and guardians by email and in beginning of the year packets that there is no fee for students to enroll in CHS courses.
  • Funding: $3.288M from WEIA provided for College in High School courses as provided in the bill.
  • 2SHB 1316: Expanding access to dual credit programs.
    • Background: This bill requires public schools to allow eligible students to participate in Running Start and allows Running Start students to be funded up to a combined maximum enrollment of 1.4 FTE. It directs OSPI to adopt rules to fund student enrollment in Running Start courses during the summer academic term up to 10 college credits per student per summer academic term.
    • Funding: $9.727M from GF-S provided to increase the enrollment limit for Running Start students from 1.2 FTE to 1.4 FTE as required under the bill.

Data Transfer

  • 2SSB 5593: Improving equity in the transfer of student data between K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.
    • Background: This bill requires public institutions of higher education to enter into data-sharing agreements with OSPI to facilitate the transfer of high school student directory information for informing high school students of postsecondary educational opportunities in the state. It directs OSPI, by no later than the 2025-26 school year, to identify a process for providing student enrollment information to school districts. It also permits the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges to coordinate with all CTCs to develop a single data-sharing agreement between the CTCs and OSPI.
    • Funding: $532K of the GF-S for FY24 $436,000 for FY25 are provided to OSPI solely for implementation of the bill.

CSF is pleased with the progress made this legislative session in removing barriers for young people’s path to educational attainment. Thank you to all who were involved in any way this session supporting legislation and funding for young people and youth furthest from educational justice. If you are interested in learning more and possibly getting more involved, I invite you to reach out me at jschindler@collegesuccessfoundation.org. Happy legislative interim!