SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5789
As of January 17, 2022
Title: An act relating to creating the Washington career and college pathways innovation challenge program.
Brief Description: Creating the Washington career and college pathways innovation challenge program.
Sponsors: Senators Randall, Nobles, Conway, Das, Frockt, Kuderer, Liias, Nguyen and Wilson, C.; by request of Student Achievement Council.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 1/18/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Creates the Washington Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Program (program) to award grants to local and regional entities for programs with the objective of meeting state educational attainment goals.
  • Directs the Student Achievement Council (Council) to administer the program based on a competitive grant process.
  • Permits the Council to solicit and receive gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources in support of the program.
  • Repeals the Washington Fund for Innovation and Quality.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

Higher Education Attainment Goal.  The Student Achievement Council (Council) provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and administers programs to support students and higher education in the state.  The Council is statutorily required to propose educational attainment goals and priorities to meet the state's higher education needs.  In 2013, the Council established the following two educational attainment goals for 2023 that the Legislature adopted in 2014:

  • all adults in Washington, ages 25-44, will have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
  • at least 70 percent of Washington adults, ages 25-44, will have a postsecondary credential.

 

Washington Fund for Innovation and Quality.  The Washington Fund for Innovation and Quality in Higher Education Program is administered by the Council and College Board to award incentive grants to public institutions of higher education, or consortia of institutions to encourage cooperative programs designed to address specific system problems.  Strong priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one sector of education and to proposals that show substantive institutional commitment. 
Summary of Bill:

The Washington Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Program (program) is created and will be administered by the Council.  The purpose of the program is to meet statewide attainment goals through the use of local and regional partnerships. 

 

The program must be administered using a competitive grant process and must consider, among other things initiatives that:

  • raise educational attainment and reach new populations;
  • engage community-based organizations;
  • expand the use of integrated work-based learning models and career connected learning; or
  • include local funds.

 

The Council must hire staff to support grant oversight and provide technical assistance to grantees. The Council must provide a report to the Legislature annually regarding the grants that were awarded and progress of each project.

 

The Washington Career and College Pathways Innovation account is established in the custody of the state treasurer.  The council may accept public and private gifts, grants, and endowments for the program.

 

The Washington Fund for Innovation and Quality is repealed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 14, 2022.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.