In early 2007, Partnership for Learning, along with 16 other business and labor organizations, launched the College & Work Ready Agenda – a coalition focused on a four key education priorities

• Strengthen the quality of early learning programs.
• Improve math and science education and alignment.
• Increase production of bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields.
• Enhance Washington State support for public university research and graduate education.

The goal of the College & Work Ready Agenda is to ensure all Washington students graduate from high school with a more meaningful diploma that signifies they are ready for their next step in life.
Since its inception, the Agenda made has made significant progress on its priorities.

• In early learning, the state enhanced training resources for early learning providers, supports all-day kindergarten in low-income schools, and authorized the creation of voluntary rating system for childcare and early learning centers. The public-private partnership Thrive by Five continues to steadily move forward in achieving their early learning goals.
• In math, The State Board of Education (SBE) plans to increase the math graduation requirement from 2 credits to 3 credits (the SBE will set an appropriate timeline for phasing in this new requirement). The State Legislature also: directed the SBE to limit the number of math curriculum being used in this state so we can better align the standards, curriculum, assessments and professional development for teachers; increased access to a common college readiness exam in math so students have an earlier and clearer picture of whether they are on track for college; and invested more in LASER, a well respected science education program in Washington State.
• In higher education, the state codified the goal of producing an additional 10,000 bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields by 2020 and funded additional slots in these at our public higher education institutions.

There is still much work to be done. We must prepare our children for the realities of life after high school and give them the tools they need to succeed.

Visit www.collegeworkready.org to learn more.