Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Higher Education Committee

HB 2443

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Recognizes the need for information on the wage growth potential for students who complete education and higher education programs.
Directs the Education Research and Data Center at the Office of Financial Management to publish employment and earnings data on its website for higher education program completers by October 1 annually.
Directs that the data shall include the higher education program and the program level for each degree, apprenticeship, and certificate awarded by each institution and shall, at a minimum, include the percentage of completers known to be employed, and the average salary.
Requires that the published data shall be consistent with state and federal privacy laws and rules.
Requires an Economic Success Metrics report that includes employment and earnings outcomes for degrees, apprenticeships, or certificates earned at public postsecondary educational institutions by November 1 annually, and made available online.

Background:

Economic Success Metrics.

Several states have initiated efforts to make information about the earnings of graduates from their higher education programs publicly accessible. These states are Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The data includes the employment and earnings for graduates from higher education programs by program and institution, and have been termed, “Economic Success Metrics”.

Employment and Earnings Results of Higher Education Programs in Washington.

Every two years, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) analyzes and reports the employment and earnings of completers of the state’s largest workforce programs including adult basic education programs, apprenticeships, community and technical college workforce programs, private career school programs, and others. The Workforce Board also maintains the Career Bridge website that is designed to help students research higher education programs available in the state. Completion rates and employment and earnings data is available for those higher education programs that are eligible to accept students with education and training vouchers provided through the federal Workforce Investment Act. It is estimated that employment and earnings data is available for approximately 40 percent of higher education programs on this site.

The Education Research and Data Center at the Office of Financial Management.

Legislation enacted in 2007 established the Education Research and Data Center (ERDC) in the Office of Financial Management to conduct analyses of early learning, K-12, and higher education programs and issues; identify critical research and policy questions and the data needed to address them; and provide research that focuses on student transitions within and between the education sectors. The ERDC acts as a data warehouse for connecting data from each of the sectors and coordinates with agencies representing early learning, education, workforce development, and higher education for this purpose.

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature recognizes the need for information on the wage growth potential for students who complete education and higher education programs in Washington for use by students, educators, and policymakers. The intent is declared that that any data collected must strictly follow federal privacy guidelines including the removal of personally identifiable information and data sets for cohorts of fewer than 10.

By October 1 annually, the ERDC at the Office of Financial Management is required to publish data on its website. The data must include the number and percentage of completers with employment at 18 months and five years after the date of graduation for each public institution of higher education; the higher education program and the program level for each degree, apprenticeship, and certificate awarded by each institution; and the average salary of completers. In order to collect and analyze the data, the ERDC must consult with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Workforce Board, and a representative of four-year institutions of higher education, among others.

The published data must be consistent with state and federal privacy laws and rules.

By November 1 annually, the ERDC must prepare, or contract with an entity to prepare, an Economic Success Metrics report that includes employment and earnings outcomes for degrees, apprenticeships, or certificates earned at public postsecondary educational institutions. This report must be delivered to the Governor and relevant committees of the Legislature. The report must be made available online, and be easily understood and accessible to the public.