LEGISLATURE 2023-24: Fixing the skills gap will help local students and businesses (REP. DAVE PAUL)
State Representative Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) sent this email to constituents from his legislative account on Fri., Jun. 9, 2023.
Dear neighbors,
Here in Washington state, we face a housing crisis, health care issues, and businesses who can’t find employees. Throughout our economy, we need skilled workers with a credential between a high school degree and a bachelor’s degree.
Nurses, carpenters, IT specialists, welders, and hundreds of other high-demand jobs fit into this category.
It’s tough to fix the workforce shortage by hiring skilled workers from other states—because every state faces the same shortages. Solutions have to start here in Washington state.
One answer is giving our students the skills they need for these high-demand, high-paying jobs. Expanding dual-credit options gives students workforce training opportunities and access to higher education while still in high school.
Washington state is a national leader in dual-credit programs, like Running Start, College in the High School, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit. Earning college credits while still in high school is one of the best ways to lower student debt and put our young people on the path to a great career.
Here’s a quick legislative update on those three important programs.
Running Start and College in the High School
High school students can earn college credit in different ways. With Running Start, juniors and seniors enroll in classes at their local community college or regional university. Students take classes on campuses or online and are not charged tuition, but families pay for class fees and books.
College in the High School allows students to take college-level courses at their home high school. Classes are taught by high school instructors who partner with a community college or university to ensure the content is the same as a course taught on a college campus. Until now, families have been charged a reduced program fee that is less than the cost of traditional tuition.
Both programs have out-of-pocket costs that are burdensome for working families.
I am proud that my bill, House Bill 1316, will continue Washington’s long tradition of supporting dual credit programs like Running Start and College in the High School. This new law lets students take Running Start classes in the summer, a terrific option for athletes or students involved in extra-curricular activities who cannot participate during the school year.
House Bill 1316 also expands funding so students can take a 1.4 full-time-equivalent of coursework at their high school and local college. This will allow students to enroll full-time at their high school and still take one tuition-free college class each term.
Research shows many families don’t know about Running Start and other dual-credit options. HB 1316 requires that high schools email families with all dual-credit opportunities every term.
I’m also proud to have partnered with Sen. Mark Mullet to lower the costs of College in the High School. Senate Bill 5048 eliminates out-of-pocket costs for this program, making it easier for students to earn college credits while taking classes at their own high schools.
CTE Dual Credit
I worked with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to give every student in our public schools a pathway to the advanced skills they need for a high-paying job after graduation.
Putting more students on this career path reduces the worker shortage in critical industries. It will also dramatically change the lives of these students, giving them access to careers with great salaries, benefits, and job stability.
I’m also proud that my request to fund the Northwest CTE Dual Credit project to increase credential attainment for high school students in professional technical programs was included in the final budget.
There is still work to be done—and I look forward to continuing to improve CTE Dual Credit attainment throughout Washington state.
Dual Credit options help put Washington students on a path to rewarding jobs . We know which ideas and reforms can help create opportunity for students and workers while closing the gap. And we know this issue won’t get solved on its own.
I believe we can listen to each other, and work together, to pass reforms that give every student, family, and business the chance to succeed.
Dave Paul
