ESHB 2626 -
By Committee on Higher Education
ADOPTED 03/07/2014
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 (1) The legislature finds that increasing
educational attainment is vital to the well-being of Washingtonians and
critical to the health of the state's economy. Education opens doors
to gainful employment, higher wages, increased job benefits, improved
physical health, and increased civic engagement. Educated workers who
are capable of competing for high-demand jobs in today's global economy
sustain existing employers and attract new businesses. These
individuals with competitive higher education credentials directly
contribute to the state's economic growth and vitality.
(2) The legislature finds that workforce and labor market
projections estimate that by 2020 the vast majority of jobs in
Washington will require at least a high school diploma or equivalent
and seventy percent of those jobs will also require some postsecondary
education.
(3) The legislature finds that current levels of educational
attainment are inadequate to address the educational needs of the
state. In 2013, eighty-nine percent of Washington adults ages twenty-five to forty-four had a high school diploma or equivalent, and less
than fifty percent of Washington adults ages twenty-five to forty-four
have a postsecondary credential.
(4) The legislature recognizes that one of the most important
duties of the student achievement council is to propose educational
attainment goals to the governor and legislature and develop a ten-year
roadmap to achieve those goals, to be updated every two years.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 Acknowledging the recommendations in the
higher education ten-year roadmap, the legislature is encouraged by the
student achievement council's efforts to meet the following two goals
in order to meet the societal and economic needs of the future:
(1) All adults in Washington ages twenty-five to forty-four will
have a high school diploma or equivalent by 2023; and
(2) At least seventy percent of Washington adults ages twenty-five
to forty-four will have a postsecondary credential by 2023.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 This act expires July 1, 2016."
ESHB 2626 -
By Committee on Higher Education
ADOPTED 03/07/2014
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "goals;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "creating new sections; and providing an expiration date."
EFFECT: Returns to the intent language in the original house bill. Removes a third goal stating that the cost of tuition, where an individual resides, economic status, race or ethnicity must not be a barrier to obtain postsecondary education. Removes the direction to the student achievement council to develop and adopt strategies to enable the state to achieve the goals and report back with recommendations. Clarifies that the legislature acknowledges the recommendations of the roadmap and is encouraged by the student achievement council's efforts to meet two educational attainment goals.