Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) supports place-based regional partnerships through the Regional Challenge Grant program which funds partnerships that must include a community-based organization along with a K-12 and higher education partner to test innovative strategies informed by the community to increase postsecondary enrollment and completion.

In 2019, HB 2158 established the Washington College Grant (WCG) which is the largest state financial aid program. For resident students from low and middle income families, this entitlement covers tuition at public 2 and 4 year colleges and universities and many private not-for-profit institutions and other certificate and apprenticeship programs as well. This need based aid is calculated based on income, family size and program enrolled in. In 2021, HB1835 provided additional funding to increase awareness of the WCG through a statewide targeted marketing campaign.

A unique systemic approach being tested in WA is to allow students who participate in some public benefits programs to automatically give them access to the Washington College Grant, thereby ensuring the student gets access to financial aid and can delay filling out the application once enrolled. WSAC is looking to expand this to bigger public benefits programs like SNAP.

In 2017, the Governor of Washington created the Career Connect Washington taskforce to develop strategies for expanding career connected learning for all students in Washington.

In 2022, Washington STEM authored and helped pass legislation HB 1867 Concerning dual credit program data.

The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) provides additional scholarships to low and middle income students pursuing professional-technical degrees and bachelor’s degrees in high demand STEM fields. WSOS is a public-private partnership in which the state matches private contributions to fund the scholarship.

Washington STEM has joined forces with staff, students, and families to help identify barriers and opportunities to college and career readiness supports — like dual credit, financial aid, and more. Read our new High School to Postsecondary report to learn more. High school to Postsecondary: Technical report

The Washington Jobs Initiative (WJI) will help more Washington residents access industry-driven training to secure a good job with a family sustaining wage. More than 70 percent of jobs created in Washington State need a postsecondary credential, but only about 40 percent of young people currently have one.

WJI was created to help more students pursue good-paying jobs after high school by enrolling in registered apprenticeships and technical training programs. The initiative is supported by a $23.5 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.