§ 28B.50.945 — Career and technical education dual credit pilot program.(Expires July 1, 2030.)

Washington § 28B.50.945

• Jurisdiction: Washington
• Title 28B: HIGHER EDUCATION
• Ch. 28B.50: COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES

Text

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the college board shall administer, and award grant funding to, a regional pilot program, for the purpose of increasing career and technical education dual credit participation and credential attainment in professional technical programs.

(2) The pilot program must be a continuation of the pilot program established in section 601(47)(a), chapter 376, Laws of 2024. This pilot program may receive grant funding for up to two years.

(3) Community and technical colleges, public high schools, and skill centers participating in a pilot program may use grant funding to cover expenses for the following activities:

(a) Developing, and updating annually, a comprehensive catalog of dual credit courses and programs offered to students enrolled in public high schools;

(b) Aligning career and technical education dual credit programs with postsecondary credential pathways and apprenticeships leading to in-demand career fields;

(c) Providing technical assistance to public high schools and institutions of higher education to improve the accuracy and speed of awarding dual credits and updating transcripts;

(d) Providing professional development for staff of public high schools and institutions of higher education to develop, align, and articulate dual credit courses; and

(e) Supporting public high school staff in the following activities:

(i) Outreach to prospective students and students who have completed career and technical education dual credit courses and are eligible for postsecondary credit about how to receive and where to apply the credit;

(ii) Providing technical assistance in course curriculum alignment for career and technical education dual credit courses;

(iii) Partnering with institutions of higher education to develop articulation agreements for career and technical education dual credit courses; and

(iv) Awarding equipment and supplies grants for career and technical education dual credit courses that meet emerging needs in high-demand, high-paying industries.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Public high school" means a public school as defined in RCW 28A.150.010 with any of grades nine through 12; and

(b) "Skill centers" refers to the regional career and technical education partnerships established under chapter 28A.245 RCW.

(5) This section expires July 1, 2030.

Findings — Intent — 2025 c 104: "(1) The legislature finds that students who participate in dual credit programs have higher rates of college enrollment, persistence, and completion. Dual credit programs are an important economic development for Washington because they equip students with the skills needed for high-skill, high-wage employment and continued education in high-demand sectors.

(2) Career and technical education (CTE) dual credit is the most commonly accessed form of dual credit in Washington and has significant potential to improve equitable access to postsecondary pathways for students from all backgrounds. However, it lags behind other course-based dual credit programs in ensuring that students receive a transcripted credit while in high school, and that the credit they earn will transfer to the postsecondary institution of their choice.

(3) Therefore, the legislature intends to extend and expand a pilot program for the purpose of increasing CTE dual credit participation and credential attainment in professional technical programs and receive recommendations on future amendments to state dual credit policies." [ 2025 c 104 s 1 .]

Legislative History

[2025 c 104 s 2.]