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.

It was a busy year in Olympia and Washington STEM, along with our partners, worked to ensure that Washinton students were at the forefront of legislator’s minds.

With the support of our 80-person policy committee, our 10 STEM Networks and King County partners, we created a policy agenda for 2019 agenda that was focused on creating opportunity for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students living in rural areas, and girls and young women. You can read our full 2019 policy agenda here.

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 this session, you can 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.

We also bring together education, business, and community leaders from across the state at our annual STEM Summit to share innovations and solutions while inspiring action. See the full list.

Washington STEM is part of a national movement advancing STEM education, including 100kin10, Change the Equation, and STEMx.