H-2601.1
HOUSE BILL 2374
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Representatives Pollet, Reed, Bergquist, Callan, Farivar, Ryu,
Berry, Nance, Tharinger, Doglio, Slatter, Simmons, Paul, Street,
Goodman, and Macri
Read first time 01/15/24. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
1 AN ACT Relating to establishing the Washington promise program,
2 which provides for affordable access to community and technical
3 colleges; amending RCW 28B.50.536, 28A.230.310, 28A.230.212, and
4 28B.77.300; reenacting and amending RCW 43.88C.010; adding a new
5 section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; adding a new section to chapter
6 28A.230 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating new
7 sections; and providing an expiration date.
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
9 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature intends to establish the
10 Washington promise program to help make the first two years of
11 college affordable and accessible to all citizens of the state of
12 Washington by offering a tuition waiver for eligible students
13 enrolled in associate degree or certificate programs offered by
14 Washington's community and technical colleges. The purposes of the
15 Washington promise program are to encourage more Washington residents
16 to enroll in and successfully complete an associate's degree,
17 workforce training certificate, or apprenticeship program that will
18 lead to opportunities for further education, well-paying jobs, and
19 increased opportunity to reduce intergenerational poverty; and to
20 increase high school graduation and equivalency program completion.
21 By making a postsecondary education credential more affordable and
p. 1 HB 2374
 1 accessible, Washington will make more progress towards the
2 legislature's attainment goal of 70 percent of Washington adults
3 having a postsecondary credential.
4 The legislature recognizes that increasing the number of
5 residents with associate degrees will lead to increased attainment
6 for higher level degrees as students are encouraged to transfer to
7 comprehensive or research universities.
8 It is the intent of the legislature to implement the Washington
9 promise program in phases. The legislature recognizes that promise
10 programs are proven to significantly increase high school graduation
11 rates by ensuring all high school graduates know they can attend a
12 community or technical college regardless of their family income.
13 Thus, investment in these programs is an evidence-based means to
14 improve high school graduation rates and to reduce, or even
15 eliminate, opportunity gaps in postsecondary education for students
16 from underrepresented minority groups, low-income students, foster
17 youth, and students with disabilities.
18 The legislature also recognizes that evidence shows that merely
19 making enrollment free does not address the many obstacles for
20 students to complete a degree or workforce training program.
21 Therefore, the legislature intends for the Washington promise program
22 to include evidence-based supports, including student orientation and
23 success courses, peer mentoring programs, and assistance in meeting
24 such basic needs as food and housing security or child care.
25 The Washington promise program is intended to provide tuition and
26 other supports to students, filling the gap left from federal Pell
27 grants and other federal financial aid that a student qualifies for
28 upon completion of the free application for federal student aid.
29 The legislature also finds that increasing the rate of high
30 school students' completion of the free application for federal
31 student aid and Washington application for state financial aid is a
32 necessary component to increasing postsecondary enrollment and
33 attainment. Therefore, the legislature intends for all Washington
34 high school students to complete the free application for federal
35 student aid and the Washington application for state financial aid
36 and receive information on the Washington promise program and
37 Washington college grant prior to high school graduation.
p. 2 HB 2374
 1 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply
2 throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires
3 otherwise.
4 (1) "Board" means the state board for community and technical
5 colleges.
6 (2) "Community or technical college" means the community or
7 technical colleges governed under chapter 28B.50 RCW.
8 (3) "Eligible degree or certificate program" means:
9 (a) An associate degree program;
10 (b) Academic programs with credits that can fully transfer via an
11 articulation agreement toward a baccalaureate degree or
12 postbaccalaureate degree at an institution of higher education, as
13 defined in RCW 28B.10.016;
14 (c) Professional and technical programs that lead to a recognized
15 postsecondary credential; or
16 (d) Apprenticeship programs approved under RCW 49.04.010 and
17 conducted in association with any community or technical college.
18 (4) "Gift aid" means financial aid received from the federal Pell
19 grant, the state need grant program under chapter 28B.92 RCW, the
20 college bound scholarship program under chapter 28B.118 RCW, the
21 opportunity grant program under chapter 28B.50 RCW, the opportunity
22 scholarship program under chapter 28B.145 RCW, or any other state
23 grant or scholarship program that provides funds for educational
24 purposes with no obligation of repayment. "Gift aid" does not include
25 student loans and work-study programs.
26 (5) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
27 (6) "Program" means the Washington promise program.
28 (7) "Program recipient" means an eligible student who has been
29 awarded a Washington promise program grant.
30 (8) "Resident student" means a student who is a resident student
31 as defined in RCW 28B.15.012.
32 (9) "Wraparound services" means evidence-based programs that have
33 been demonstrated to, or which research provides support that the
34 program will, increase student retention and degree or certificate
35 completion.
36 NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Subject to availability of amounts
37 appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington promise
38 program is established to provide up to 90 credits to be earned
39 within six years from the date of enrollment or the equivalent of two
p. 3 HB 2374
 1 years of full-time enrollment of tuition free community or technical
2 college, whichever comes first, for eligible students enrolled in any
3 quarter or semester beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The
4 office shall administer the program. To become a program recipient,
5 an eligible student:
6 (a) Must have graduated from a public high school or earned a
7 high school equivalency certificate, as described in RCW 28B.50.536,
8 in the state within 15 calendar months prior to enrolling in a
9 community or technical college;
10 (b) Must not have previously earned an associate degree;
11 (c) Must be enrolled at least part time in an eligible degree or
12 certificate program at a community or technical college;
13 (d) Must complete the free application for federal student aid or
14 the Washington application for state financial aid for the academic
15 year in which they seek eligibility for the program;
16 (e) Must be a resident student; and
17 (f) Must have a family income that does not exceed 200 percent of
18 the state median family income, adjusted for family size as
19 established and updated annually by the student achievement council.
20 (2) Beginning with the 2028-29 academic year, an eligible student
21 is expanded to include an individual who:
22 (a) Has graduated from a public high school or earned a high
23 school equivalency certificate, as described in RCW 28B.50.536, in
24 the state;
25 (b) Has not have previously earned an associate degree;
26 (c) Is enrolled at least part time in an eligible degree or
27 certificate program at a community or technical college;
28 (d) Has completed the free application for federal student aid or
29 the Washington application for state financial aid for the academic
30 year in which they seek eligibility for the program;
31 (e) Is a resident student; and
32 (f) Has a family income that does not exceed 150 percent of the
33 state median family income, adjusted for family size as established
34 and updated annually by the student achievement council.
35 (3) The office shall award grants to program recipients for an
36 amount up to the cost of tuition and fees as defined in RCW
37 28B.15.020, and services and activities fees as defined in RCW
38 28B.15.041, less all other gift aid.
39 (4) Program recipients must receive intensive advising, defined
40 by the board in consultation with the student achievement council,
p. 4 HB 2374
 1 for student success from the community or technical college in which
2 they are enrolled.
3 (5)(a) The board shall develop a plan to provide program
4 recipients with median family incomes at or below 100 percent of the
5 state median family income, adjusted for family size as established
6 and updated annually by the student achievement council, or who are
7 eligible for the Washington college grant created in RCW 28B.92.200,
8 with a preenrollment orientation program or a quarter or semester to
9 year-long student success course that provides advising and peer
10 support and teaches essential skills for college success. Essential
11 skills may include study habits and time management, financial aid
12 information and resources, connecting students with advisors,
13 encouraging student mentoring, helping establish student cohorts, and
14 providing information about services available on campus.
15 Participation in programs or courses created under this subsection
16 must be free of cost and may not result in a reduction of gift aid.
17 (b) The board shall provide the plan to the relevant committees
18 of the legislature by December 1, 2024, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036,
19 and begin implementation of the plan for the 2025-26 academic year.
20 (6) Program recipients with median family incomes at or below 150
21 percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size
22 as established and updated annually by the student achievement
23 council, must receive an annual $500 college basic attendance grant
24 for books and other related higher education expenses and a transit
25 pass for public transit serving the community or technical college at
26 which the program recipient is enrolled.
27 (a) The college basic attendance grant must be distributed on a
28 quarterly or semester basis for each quarter or semester a program
29 recipient is enrolled, with the grant prorated based on three
30 quarters or two semesters of attendance per academic year. Program
31 recipients who enroll in four quarters are entitled to a college
32 basic attendance grant equivalent to one-third of the annual stipend
33 for the fourth quarter.
34 (b) Program recipients enrolled less than full time must receive
35 a prorated portion of the college basic attendance grant based on the
36 number of credits enrolled. Receipt of the stipend may not result in
37 a reduction of gift aid.
38 (c) Beginning December 31, 2026, and every two years thereafter,
39 the student achievement council shall adopt an annual inflation
40 increase for the college basic attendance grant based on the cost of
p. 5 HB 2374
 1 attendance, including required textbooks and other costs for
2 attendance. By January 31, 2027, and every two years thereafter, the
3 student achievement council shall report the inflation adjustment for
4 the following biennium to the governor, the caseload forecast
5 council, and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
6 legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036.
7 (7)(a) By June 30, 2025, the board, in consultation with the
8 student achievement council, shall adopt a menu of evidence-based
9 wraparound services that increase student retention and degree or
10 certificate completion rates. The menu of wraparound services must be
11 updated every five years.
12 (b) Each community or technical college district shall devise a
13 plan for providing wraparound services based on the needs of the
14 population the district serves and including evidence-based
15 wraparound services identified in the menu created in (a) of this
16 subsection. Wraparound services may include collaborations with not-
17 for-profit and community-based organizations using evidence-based
18 mentoring and advising. Each community or technical college district
19 shall submit its plan to the board for approval by December 1, 2025,
20 and every five years thereafter.
21 (c) Wraparound services must be provided to all program
22 recipients from the community or technical college in which they are
23 enrolled for the purpose of reducing, or helping to reduce, barriers
24 that threaten completion of their degree or certificate program.
25 Wraparound services may include, but are not limited to, navigation
26 support for public benefits, financial coaching, and access to food,
27 housing, and child care resources and referrals.
28 (d) Program recipients who are considered first generation
29 college students or members of other groups whose retention and
30 completion rates are lower than target rates set by the board must be
31 offered additional evidence-based wraparound services including
32 mentoring and peer support programs. The board is encouraged to
33 utilize community-based nonprofit partners who may begin mentoring
34 and supporting students in developing postsecondary success skills
35 while in high school and continuing through the first two quarters of
36 enrollment at a community or technical college.
37 (8) Program recipients with eligible dependent children are
38 eligible for subsidized child care and early learning programs which
39 are accredited through head start, the early childhood education and
p. 6 HB 2374
 1 assistance program, or a public school system at the community or
2 technical college, or in the community.
3 (9) By December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the board shall
4 report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
5 legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, on the following impacts of
6 the program:
7 (a) Program recipient enrollment in eligible degree or
8 certificate programs;
9 (b) Program recipient completion rates of credits, certificates,
10 and degrees;
11 (c) The cost of implementation, including the cost per program
12 recipient;
13 (d) Additional resources used to meet program recipient needs,
14 such as counseling, precollege courses, child care, or
15 transportation;
16 (e) The number of program recipients receiving wraparound
17 services, the number of schools providing wraparound services, and
18 the resources needed to provide wraparound services; and
19 (f) Evidence relating to changes in student retention and degree
20 or certificate completion rates for different student populations
21 divided, to the extent possible, by type of wraparound services
22 students received.
23 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10
24 RCW to read as follows:
25 The state universities, regional universities, and the state
26 college shall offer students who transferred from a community or
27 technical college at which they received wraparound services under
28 section 3(7) of this act a quarter or semester-long student success
29 course, intensive advising, or a peer advising or mentoring program.
30 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.230
31 RCW to read as follows:
32 (1) The state board of education and office of the superintendent
33 of public instruction shall adopt learning requirements and a
34 curriculum for every high school junior and senior to learn about the
35 Washington promise program created in section 3 of this act, the
36 Washington college grant created in RCW 28B.92.200, and the benefits
37 and opportunities of postsecondary education.
p. 7 HB 2374
1 (2) Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, high school
2 graduation requirements established by the state board of education
3 must include participation in a program in junior or senior year
4 assisting students and parents or legal guardians in completing the
5 free application for federal student aid and the Washington
6 application for state financial aid.
7 Sec. 6. RCW 28B.50.536 and 2013 c 39 s 9 are each amended to
8 read as follows:
9 (1) Subject to rules adopted by the state board of education
10 under RCW 28A.305.190, the state board for community and technical
11 colleges shall adopt rules governing the eligibility of persons
12 sixteen years of age and older to take a test to earn a high school
13 equivalency certificate, rule