For decades, college tuition costs have been skyrocketing, yet state financial aid has failed to meet the increasing economic needs of college students -- leaving many young people with the choice of bridging the financial gap by taking out student loans or not attending college at all. This pressing issue of rising college tuition is not just a…

When postsecondary education is accessible and pathways to earning a credential are available to all, the economic and personal benefits afforded to both individuals and society are substantial. Improving access and completion using strategies that attempt to support all students--regardless of demographic background--may yield important progress.…

This article provides a brief history of undocumented students and higher education, from the landmark case of "Plyler v. Doe" to the examination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. As lawmakers engage in debate regarding undocumented immigrants, states have attempted to provide educational clarity. In addition, academic…

Objective/Research Question: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which programs offering community college baccalaureates (CCBs) address access and equity for underrepresented racial minorities (URMs). The study first aimed to understand how administrators described the purpose of CCBs with regard to advancing equity for URMs.…

Despite progress in the number of Washingtonians receiving postsecondary credentials, there are persistent gaps in attainment rates for underrepresented minority groups. Notably, the Hispanic population is the state's second-largest racial/ethnic group, but educational outcomes lag behind their white counterparts. Narrowing these equity gaps…

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) engaged with BERK Consulting to conduct twelve focus groups with adult learners across the state in 2022. Funded by the Lumina Foundation, the study focuses on populations furthest from educational opportunities, including those from racial and ethnic groups with the lowest attainment levels;…

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association's (SHEEO) "Communities of Practice" project builds upon SHEEO's ongoing efforts to measure the capacity and effective use of state postsecondary data systems and provides states with opportunities to develop solutions to common issues with those systems. The sixth Community of…

Homeschoolers--and their motivations--are increasingly diverse. A number of innovations, such as online schools, microschools, co-ops, and support centers, are enabling this diversity. Though frequently left out of the conversation about education, the homeschooling movement has much to teach us about creating more customized and effective school…

In 2019, the Washington Student Achievement Council adopted a Strategic Framework to better understand how state higher education policy contributes to campus and student success. The framework organizes the policy work into four areas deemed essential to achieve the 70 percent goal: (1) Affordability; (2) Enrollment; (3) Completion; and (4)…

Higher education is essential to accessing high-demand jobs with family-supporting wages and improving family financial wellbeing. This was true before the COVID-19 pandemic and is especially true now as the nation continues the process of recovering from one of the worst public health, economic, and social crises in modern U.S. history. To…

Washington State is experiencing substantial growth in the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs. Student enrollments in STEM CCB programs are also growing, providing an opportune time to study these students and their enrollment in and completion of STEM CCB programs. This…

The widespread shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for digital technology at home. Students without adequate internet and computer access have experienced challenges participating in remote learning. This report presents information and insights about the digital divide for students in Washington. Although…

These are the appendixes for the report "Limited Certificated Teachers in Washington: Barriers to Becoming Fully Certificated and Needed Supports." The study findings are based on analysis of responses to the Limited Certificated Teacher Survey administered in 2017 by the State of Washington Professional Educator Standards Board. The…

Washington state faces a growing teacher shortage, especially in bilingual education, math, science, English language development, and special education. And its teacher workforce is much less diverse than the student population. To reduce these challenges, state education leaders want to encourage limited certificated teachers to become fully…

ParentChild+ is a national home visiting program dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for families in marginalized communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program worked more closely than ever with families and family care providers with young children to ensure they had the necessary tools and resources to support their children to…