Washington students aspire to careers in many fields — agriculture, engineering, health care, technology, and much more. Many seek skills that will enable them to best serve their communities. Others aspire to be the first in their family to attend college. Students rely on financial aid, scholarships, and other vital supports to get and stay on a path to a credential.
Our goal remains the same: that 70% of Washington students will earn a credential by the high school class of 2030.
But many industries are facing critical workforce shortages, and even before the pandemic, post-high school education enrollment and credential attainment rates had flattened. As Washington works to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, investing in students and our future workforce is essential.
Click here to learn more about the critical challenges along the Path to 70% or scroll down and click to explore more about each subject.
Read, watch, and listen to students’ stories in their own voices here.
Despite the economic necessity of earning a credential beyond high school, far too few Washington students are completing postsecondary education and training.
Research indicates that students who earn college credit during their high school experience are more likely to graduate high school, persist into a second year of post-high school education and complete a bachelor’s degree within four years.
Far too many young people have not enrolled in post-high school education or training as planned, and progress toward their career goals has stalled. Also, a record number of Americans are resigning from their jobs, driven by labor market changes and accelerated by the pandemic.
Washington has a nation-leading financial aid initiative, the Washington College Grant. But too many students can’t access this financial aid because of barriers like financial aid application completion challenges.
Career connected learning gives students the chance to gain real-world skills and explore careers, launching more young people toward success in apprenticeships, college and other post-high school education and careers. Our state must grow this capacity.
“I wish more students knew that the Washington College Grant is available to so many people and can make college possible…”
“Financial aid doesn’t just fund an education. It builds opportunity, and that benefits all of us…”
“Without the Washington College Grant, I would’ve worked more hours outside of work-study and felt more financially insecure…”
“‘Receiving the Washington College Grant changed the question from ‘Can I afford higher education?’ to ‘What school do I want to go to?’…”
“Be sure to apply for FAFSA. Just apply—it doesn’t hurt, and you never know what you might qualify for…”
“I was interested in the medical field but unsure how to get a foot in the door…”