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Strategic Action Plan

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The 2021 Strategic Action Plan identifies key state policies to increase educational attainment.  

The plan includes a summary of our current state policy environment and a work plan for the Council, partners, and stakeholders to take on over a two-year cycle. Informed by diverse stakeholders throughout the state, the Strategic Action Plan identifies Washington’s strengths and opportunities for improvement in a four-part strategic framework: affordability, enrollment, student supports, and completion. 

The framework is built upon the belief that an affordable and supportive educational environment will encourage more Washingtonians to enroll in programs and complete credentials. Ensuring equitable access and success for all students is central to the strategic framework. 

The Strategic Action Plan is not an agency-specific document that addresses only WSAC programs and initiatives. It is meant to be the state’s policy built through the Council’s work to engage a wide range of partners and stakeholders to forge a consensus for state action. The SAP includes a summary of our current state policy environment and a work plan for the Council, partners, and stakeholders to take on over a two-year cycle. 

2021 Plan Highlights 

  • Education and training beyond high school is essential. Some credential beyond a high school diploma is increasingly essential to earn a living wage and avoid the worst impacts of an economic downturn.  
  • All sectors of society shape public attitudes on educational pathways. College-going choices are shaped by several societal factors, extending beyond the influence of schools and colleges. 
  • Student success is shaped by factors outside the classroom. A variety of education impediments can derail students from reaching their educational aspirations.  
  • Racial and ethnic disparities appear throughout educational pathways. Only 50 percent or less of Washington state residents who are Black, Indigenous, Latino, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander currently have a postsecondary credential.