Evolving to meet the moment: Introducing our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s start with our high-level approach. Here’s what’s staying the same:

• We will continue to take a cradle-to-career approach to addressing educational inequity.
• Our superpower is using partnerships and data to fuel advocacy.
• Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion lie at the heart of our work.

On the other hand, our approach is evolving. Namely, we’re deepening our understanding of how STEM learning enriches students, families, and communities. This broader, more holistic perspective is all about STEM literacy.

Wait a minute, what’s STEM literacy?

STEM isn’t just about science, technology, engineering, and math; it’s about problem-solving and discovery—essential skills that enable lifelong learning. When students are “STEM literate,” they are comfortable with and equipped to engage in STEM through their education, careers, and daily lives.

With this in mind, our team has identified three focus areas for our work over the next 3 ½ years. We call them the keystones.**

Introducing the keystones

The word “keystone” might bring you back to your high school science class. In ecology, a keystone species maintains the balance of an ecosystem. (Take otters, whose diet of sea urchins ensures the health of kelp forests.)

In architecture, a keystone is the central stone at the summit of an arch that holds the rest of the structure in place.
Drawing inspiration from both of these meanings, we define keystones as the critical conditions that must be in place for all students to have an equitable STEM education. Together, our three keystones will ensure the health of Washington’s education system, starting with early care and education, continuing in preschool through 12th grade, and extending into postsecondary education and careers.

Read more about how we’re working towards our keystones and the barriers we face along the way.

Early Care & Education

The keystone: All learners have equitable access to high-quality early care and education (ECE).

A high-quality early care and education contributes to children’s lifelong learning outcomes (including STEM literacy), supports families’ economic mobility, and boosts the economy. Yet 70% of Washington’s children and families don’t have access to this level of care, especially dual language learners, BIPOC families, students with disabilities, and families working non-traditional hours.

The barriers:

• We need more population-specific data on Washington state’s ECE system.
• Government and community leaders need support in understanding and using this data to create positive changes within the ECE system.

Our work: We will work with government agencies and organizations to make ECE data more available and update existing data. We will help government and community leaders use this data to improve policies, practices, and procedures.

Preschool – 12th Grade STEM

The keystone: All learners graduate STEM literate, with the knowledge, skills, and sense of belonging to thrive in their chosen career paths—and to solve local and global problems.

The good news is that there are already many strong efforts to engage students in STEM learning, both locally and statewide. The bad news is that the educators, businesses, community organizations, and legislators leading these efforts aren’t always on the same page and sometimes compete for resources and students’ attention.

The barrier:

• There is limited support for coordinated action across the layers of our education system, from preschool to 12th grade (P–12).

Our work: We will cultivate an understanding of what it means to graduate “STEM literate” and align actions and policies across the entire P–12 system. Our focus will include early STEM, the STEM teaching workforce, and career preparation.

Pathways to Credential & Career

The keystone: All learners have equitable access to credentials and careers via multiple pathways and are supported as they transition from high school to postsecondary education systems.

In Washington state, 70% of in-demand, family-sustaining jobs require STEM education after high school. However, students—especially young women and BIPOC, rural, and gender-diverse youth—don’t always get the support they need to pursue postsecondary credentials and careers.

The barriers:

• Washington lacks a cohesive, statewide approach to supporting students’ postsecondary aspirations and transitions.
• As a result, many local organizations and institutions lack viable pathways for students to move from credentials to careers.

Our work: We will support regional leaders in data use, change management, and accountability to develop comprehensive navigational supports and cohesive career-connected learning pathways. By demonstrating the impact of smooth postsecondary transitions at the local level, we will influence and improve state-level policy.

Stay tuned as we enter this next phase of our work!

If you’re really into charts, diagrams, and details, read our full 2025-28 Strategic Plan. (And, if you want the bite-sized version, check out our Executive Summary.)

***
*Credit to our partners at Beyond100k for using ‘keystone’ in reference to systems change in education.
**Yes, we know, a 3 ½-year Strategic Plan is a little unusual. We are changing the cadence of our Strategic Plans to match the academic calendar so our work is better aligned with many of our other partners in education.