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Prosperity Partnership E-Newsletter April 16, 2007
State Legislature Codifies Higher Education Goals
The Washington State Legislature approved SB 5731 today. Sponsored by Senator Paull Shin, the bill codifies the Prosperity Partnership's goal of 10,000 more degrees by 2020 as state policy, and charges a legislative task force with developing a plan to achieve that goal. The task force is due to report its findings later this year. The legislation now awaits Governor Gregoire's signature.
"We have long known that Washington under-produces bachelor's degrees - particularly in high demand fields," said David Tang, K&L Gates partner and chair of the Prosperity Partnership Higher Education Working Group. "SB 5731, combined with this year's extraordinarily strong budget proposals for higher education, is a big step toward solving these challenges."
The bill finds that Washington "needs to produce eight to ten thousand additional baccalaureate degrees each year" in order to help fill demand in growing fields. The task force it creates will be composed of:
The committee is charged with developing a plan to increase Washington's degree production, developing a marketing project to inform students of the opportunities in high demand fields, find ways to get students motivated to take more math and science classes, and identify increased partnerships between education and the business community. Its findings are due December 1, 2007.
To view a copy of the bill click here.
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