OLYMPIA – A bill sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Everett) to streamline the process of student data transfer to higher education institutions cleared a key Senate committee last week.
Senate Bill 5593 provides four-year and community and technical colleges in Washington with the contact information of all graduating high school seniors at no cost. The information was previously available for a fee.
“High school seniors are faced with so many choices to make after graduation, and we should provide them with the resources they need to make informed decisions,” said Liias. “We can advance equity, support our institutions of higher learning, and spread the word about accessible and affordable programs all at the same time. This is a win-win-win for families, students, and our colleges.”
Current estimates show that for the high school class of 2019, only 43% of Washington students are expected to earn a postsecondary credential of any kind by age 26. The bill aims to make college (both four-year and community and technical college) more accessible to students across the state.
After passing the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, the bill will now be heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. It is scheduled for public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 9am. Members of the public interested in testifying can find more information here.
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