Washington Business Fall 2018 | Legislative Review & Vote Record | Page 27

issue area reports | education and workforce
funding for the Opportunity Scholarship,
$4.3 million, and the State Need
Grant, $18.5 million. Both efforts were
supported by AWB. However, more than
halfway into the legislative session,
funding for the state’s popular dual
credit program — Running Start — was
placed into jeopardy over a disagreement
about whether to assign funding for
the program to basic education or to
the community and technical colleges.
In addition, there was a debate over
efforts to expand the program. The
final decision provided protection to
the program, which allows high school
juniors and seniors to take college classes
and complete an associates’ degree at
the same time they complete their high
school requirements. AWB anticipates
concerted efforts in the next legislative
session to expand this program.
workforce training
The state’s employers need a trained
and skilled workforce to grow jobs
and contribute to the state’s economy.
We must provide education and job
preparation opportunities for our citizens
and our employers, most of whom are
willing to help a qualified employee
get the training they need. This is even
more important in rural areas where
the shortages are acute. In the 2018
legislative session, work-based learning
opportunities such as apprenticeships,
internships, and mentorships were key
efforts to grow the workforce pipeline.
Bill considered as part of
AWB’s voting record
Rep. Laurie Dolan, D-Olympia, is vice chair of the House Education Committee.
SSB 6544
the future of work task
force
Passed/AWB Supported
Legislators established a new Future of
Work Task Force. With representatives
from business, labor, and government, the
task force will develop and maintain an
inventory of the current and future trends
and factors that drive transformation of
industries and work in Washington over
the next 25 years through collaborations
with statewide and national partners. The
task force will also identify best practices
and case studies applicable to the state of
Washington. The face of the work place is
changing quickly. Washington’s workforce
and training system must be able to effec-
tively and efficiently respond to the needs of
the state’s employers. The Future of Work
Task Force will provide this guidance and
a base for future actions.
Favorable outcome for
Washington businesses
SHB 2685
promoting apprenticeship
opportunities for high
school students
Passed/AWB Supported
Introduced by a bipartisan group of repre-
sentatives, Substitute House Bill 2685 tasks
OSPI, the State Board for Community and
Technical Colleges and the Washington
State Apprenticeship and Training Council
to study opportunities to expand appren-
ticeships for high school students. With
the governor focusing on career connected
learning activities, with particular interest
in apprenticeships, the work of this task
force is key to increasing the state’s work-
force pipeline for the trades. It includes
improving alignment between college level
vocational courses and high school gradu-
ation requirements, identifying barriers
to career exploration for the state’s youth,
and increasing awareness of career and
apprenticeship opportunities for students,
teachers, counselors and parents.
Missed Opportunities
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