Washington STEM informs critical policy decisions
Washington STEM is the go-to resource for Washington policymakers at the state and federal level. We provide non-partisan policy recommendations, inspiring stories of STEM in action, top facts, and actionable insights of what works here in Washington.
Washington STEM informs critical policy decisions
Washington STEM is the go-to resource for Washington policymakers at the state and federal level. We provide non-partisan policy recommendations, inspiring stories of STEM in action, top facts, and actionable insights of what works here in Washington.
We work with communities across the state to develop our state policy agenda to ensure state investments and policies drive the best outcomes for Washington’s students and economy.
With the support of our 15-person policy executive committee, our 10 STEM Networks and King County partners, we’ve created a policy agenda for 2020 that is focused on creating opportunity for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students living in rural areas, and girls and young women.
Our policy priorities in 2020 are:
Career Pathways
- We will advocate to the legislature to prioritize funding for Leadership Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER). For more information on this policy priority, read this LASER policy brief from Washington STEM.
- Support increased funding for Career Connect Washington. For more information on this policy priority, please read this Career Connect Washington policy brief.
Early STEM
- We will advocate to the legislature for investments in Early Learning Coordinators at Education Service Districts across Washington. For more information on this policy priority, please read this Association of Education Service Districts (AESD) policy brief.
For a quick recap of how the 2019 legislative session ended, head over to our blog to read the 2019 update. For a more comprehensive overview of Education policy wins in the 2019 session, read our full 2019 legislative summary.
Our work in past years has resulted in:
- creation of the Governor’s Task Force on career connected learning and statewide funding for career connected learning
- creation of the Governor’s STEM Education Innovation Alliance
- adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards
- increased access to computer science education and Washington state allowing Advanced Placement Computer Science to count as a math or science credit towards graduation
- increased opportunities for STEM postsecondary degrees and support to expand Washington State Opportunity Scholarship eligibility to students seeking technical degrees or certificates
- introduction of STEM into early learning
- funding to support Washington MESA’s programs supporting students of color and additional funding to build STEM classrooms.