Bill > SB5442

This bill establishes a college promise pilot program in eastern Washington, designed to support students' post-high school education. The program will provide up to $5,000 annually in tuition and fees for a minimum of 100 students per year within a 10-county region, targeting students who have graduated from a local high school, enrolled in a local postsecondary institution within one year of graduation, completed financial aid applications, and come from families with incomes at or below 150% of the state median. The funding will be a combination of private grants and state matching funds, with the state providing dollar-for-dollar matching up to a certain amount. A specific 501(c)(3) organization will administer the program and will also establish a high school promise pilot program that offers full tuition for two years of community college to students from three selected high schools in the most populous county east of the Cascade mountains. The program includes a requirement for a comprehensive report to the legislature by December 1, 2028, detailing student participation, degree completion, and transfer rates. The pilot program is set to run from the 2025-26 academic year and will expire on August 1, 2029, with initial state appropriations of $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5442&Year=2025&Initiative=false