The bill aims to establish a virtual campus for all Washingtonians by enhancing the online course offerings of community and technical colleges. It allows these institutions to distribute information about their online courses beyond their district boundaries, utilizing various advertising methods. Additionally, the bill emphasizes that colleges should prioritize informing local citizens about courses offered by neighboring districts while prohibiting competition among colleges for enrollment. A new section mandates the college board to create a website by the start of the 2026-27 academic year, enabling students to search for online courses across all community and technical colleges, laying the groundwork for the virtual campus.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the college board in developing a comprehensive plan for the virtual campus, which includes ensuring students can access and enroll in online courses from different colleges without additional fees. The plan must also address compliance with state tuition laws and provide a timeline for implementing cross-enrollment agreements. By December 1, 2026, the college board is required to report to the legislature on its progress and recommendations for legislation to fully establish the virtual campus by the 2028-29 academic year.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.50.090