2026 Strategic Action Plan - Increasing Postsecondary Educational Attainment and Equity in Washington State

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

2026 Strategic Action Plan outlines Washington Student Achievement Council’s approach to raising postsecondary educational attainment and equity across the state. It connects credential attainment beyond high school to living-wage jobs, economic mobility, and higher lifetime earnings. The plan explains why the prior 70% attainment goal is still insufficient given rising workforce skill demands, and calls for aggressive investment and change. It also frames work through federal and state policy impacts and a four-cluster strategy centered on affordability, enrollment, basic needs, and completion, guided by shared values and equity-focused action.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time1 h 13 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Washington’s State Goal for Educational Attainment

Federal Higher Education Policy and Impacts on Washington State

Higher Education Policy in Washington State

Strategic Framework and Cluster Areas

2026 Strategic Action Plan Increasing Postsecondary Educational Attainment and Equity in Washington State WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL │ 2026 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN 1 Introduction Strategic Action Plan 2026 Washington’s State Goal for Educational Attainment An education or training credential beyond a high school diploma is essential to earn a living wage and achieve economic mobility. These credentials include traditional college degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, and other career-based programs. They are provided by public and private colleges and universities, community and technical colleges, and training programs by employers. In Washington, students from families in the bottom quartile of income earn more than their parents (combined) by the third year after postsecondary graduation. Additionally, earning a credential or degree after high school offers key opportunities for jobs paying higher wages and better benefits. Higher levels of education are associated with increasing lifetime earnings for all races and ethnicities (Fig. 1) . The individual and broad economic benefits of continued learning and training provide a strong rationale to increase statewide educational attainment. In 2013, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) proposed that, as our state goal, 70 percent of the state’s 25-to 44-year-olds (i. e., our early and mid-career residents) should have a credential beyond high school. The Legislature approved the goal, and it was signed into law by then Governor Jay Inslee. The 70 percent goal was based on an analysis of the skill demands in the state job market, but more importantly, it is an aspirational vision. Our attainment level has grown by nearly seven percentage points over the last decade. At that rate, it will take us another decade to achieve our goal. Unfortunately, the job market demands higher skill levels every year. By the time we reach 70 percent, a much higher goal will be long past due. Washington needs an aggressive change agenda and financial investment to maximize opportunities for all state residents. Figure 1. Median Lifetime Earnings in the U.S. by Race/Ethnicity and Educational Attainment Note: The median lifetime earnings for adults ages 25–64 have been adjusted for the costs of education (net tuition and fees and forgone earnings) and account for the likelihood of working. Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis of data from the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2009–11 (pooled), 2019–21 (pooled), 2009–21 (pooled); National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: 2016 (NPSAS: 2016) Undergraduate Students (UG) and Graduate Students (GR), 2016. Introduction Federal Higher Education Policy and Impacts on Washington State Current federal higher education policy is radically shifting the ability to afford and access higher education. The reduction in force initiative is impacting nearly half of the Department of Education’s workforce. This includes workers who served in the Federal Student Aid (FSA) office, the Institute of Education Sciences, the Post Secondary Education office, and others. The Department of Education has said that it will continue to deliver on all statutory programs without disruptions, including Pell Grants, student loans, TRIO, and GEAR UP. However, there have been delays in the processing of FAFSA applications that were held for possible errors. FSA staff ordinarily work to reduce this backlog, but no staff are available to do this. Some functions of the department may be transferred to other federal agencies or privatized. Detailed plans for these changes have not been made available yet. Overall, there is a lot of uncertainty, and this landscape is evolving. Higher Education Policy in Washington State For many years, state and federal higher education policy focused on the supply and affordability of postseconda

FAQs

What is the state goal for educational attainment in Washington described in the plan?

The plan describes a goal that 70% of Washington residents ages 25 to 44 should have a credential beyond high school, reflecting an aspiration to expand opportunities.

Why does the plan say reaching the 70% goal may take too long?

It notes attainment has grown but predicts another decade would be required at current pace, while the job market continues to demand higher skills each year.

How is the strategic action work organized in the plan?

The plan frames efforts in four strategic cluster areas: Affordability, Enrollment, Basic Needs, and Completion, centered on equity and designed to support access and student success.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang