2009 Policy Priorities
K-12 and Higher Education
Empower our children to succeed in the jobs of the future
Strengthen the quality of early learning to provide our children with a solid foundation
It is essential for Washington’s children to arrive in kindergarten ready to learn. The state should develop indicators of school readiness to be applied consistently across Washington; implement a uniform, statewide system for evaluating the quality of early learning programs; and enhance provider training, in order to provide our students with the best possible start to their education.
Commit to standards and prepare our students to demonstrate knowledge in core subjects
It is critical that students be able to demonstrate achievement in reading, writing, mathematics and other core academic subjects before graduating from high school and entering higher education and the workforce. The TA encourages our state leaders to maintain a commitment to high standards and provide the resources and policy framework that will enable our students to meet these expectations.
Implement the CORE 24 diploma requirements to equip students for higher education, the workplace, and life – starting with math
Our innovation-driven economy demands a highly educated, math, science and technology-literate workforce. Washington’s high school graduation requirements are not in line with the level of preparation our students need to be successful in post-secondary education and training, to compete for 21st century jobs, or to participate fully in the global, knowledge-based economy. Roughly half of Washington graduates enrolled in our community and technical colleges are required to take non-credit remedial courses, and students who complete the minimum high school coursework required for graduation are ineligible to attend a public four-year college or university in our state.
Washington must align the high school diploma with the level of knowledge and skills our students need to succeed in the rapidly changing global economy, beginning immediately with implementation of a required third course credit in math with content through Algebra II, and phasing in the State Board of Education’s complete CORE 24 framework accompanied by the necessary funding.
Elevate student achievement in math and science through quality teaching and curriculum, expansion of best practices, and innovative new approaches
Washington must strengthen math and science teaching by focusing on quality preparation and ongoing professional development. Our state also should implement a multi-pronged strategy to attract students to math and science teaching and retain effective teachers in these subjects, including the offering of incentives to encourage students to enter the field, differential pay for qualified teachers in shortage areas such as math and science, and alternative paths to certification.
In its efforts to improve math and science teaching and learning, Washington should pursue innovative approaches and identify best practices that can be applied on a wider basis: for example, Western Washington University’s Science, Mathematics & Technology Education Program could serve as a best practices model for math and science teacher preparation, while LASER is a proven approach to inquiry-based science learning and professional development which could be further expanded to school districts around the state. The TA also supports implementation of a limited number of state-approved math curricula, providing additional opportunities for hands-on science learning, and ensuring access for all students to pursue Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate coursework.
Increase bachelor’s degree production in high-demand, high-impact fields essential to our future economic prosperity
Washington is among the top states in the nation in educated workforce and employment of scientists and engineers – and the demand will intensify as employment growth in these fields is expected to outpace that of all occupations over the next eight years. For example, the Employment Security Department projects our state will add more than 13,600 software engineering positions by 2016. These are high-impact jobs: one job in the software industry creates six more jobs in the Washington state economy.
Our higher education system is not set up to meet this increasing demand. Washington ranks 36th in total bachelor’s degree production and 38th in the production of bachelor’s degrees in the STEM* disciplines. Total openings due to growth in computer science and engineering are expected to number 3,600 per year; at present, our higher education system annually produces fewer than 650 degrees in the computer specialist fields. Washington must significantly expand bachelor’s degree production over the next decade, targeting job-creating fields and those that fulfill a critical need in our economy: computer science, engineering, life sciences, medical research, nursing, and math and science secondary teaching.
Strengthen and expand graduate degree programs in STEM
Strong graduate programs are an essential component of a world-class higher education system, supporting university research and producing the highly educated workforce required by our innovative industries which directly account for nearly 12% of Washington employment and support 40% of all jobs in our state.
Although we have the fourth highest concentration of employment in technology-based industries in the nation, we rank 46th in the nation for participation in science and engineering graduate programs and last among the Global Challenge States^ in advanced degree production in all fields. The TA urges our state leaders to expand advanced degree production, with a strong emphasis on quality STEM programs, in line with the recommendations of the Higher Education Coordinating Board in its strategic master plan.
Research Capacity
Generate the ideas and innovations of tomorrow
Support academic research in areas of competitive strength and future opportunity with targeted investments in faculty and infrastructure
Our public research universities, University of Washington and Washington State University, form the backbone of our innovation economy. Both institutions have strong research programs with international reputations, and UW is the top public higher education recipient of federal research dollars in the nation.
Strategic state investment in our academic research centers is critical to attracting federal and private funding and top talent to Washington. For example, $1 million to establish a new eScience Institute helped UW earn designation as regional implementing organization for the National Science Foundation’s Ocean Observatories Initiative, which will bring an estimated $130 million in federal funds. Another $1 million from the star researchers program enabled WSU, in partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to recruit internationally recognized microbiologist Dr. Birgitte Ahring to lead the new Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory at WSU Tri-Cities.
Going forward, state investment will be crucial to sustain and build Washington’s leadership in areas such as computer science, global health, the environment and clean energy – sectors where we have expertise and opportunity to compete globally. Investments today in innovative research teams, modeled on the Advanced Technology Initiative, and research infrastructure are imperative to growing the industries of tomorrow.
Create a state strategy to position Washington as a leader in clean technology and connect this research to our state economy
Washington lacks a cohesive, forward-thinking strategy to leverage our assets and maximize our economic opportunity in clean technology-related research and development. Without a plan that identifies areas of core competency and advances a supportive policy framework, our state will be at a competitive disadvantage, particularly in clean energy.
Other states are already significantly ahead of Washington in identifying their strengths in this space, investing strategically to support development of new technologies and companies, and developing policies that encourage deployment of these technologies. We must be proactive in crafting our own strategy to capitalize on our research assets and ensure that new clean tech innovations translate into new companies and jobs in our state. Washington’s public and private sectors will have to work together to advance promising clean energy research, attract outside investment, and scale up projects in order to position our state as a leader in producing next-generation technologies in the green economy.
Sustain the state commitment to the Life Sciences Discovery Fund
Our state took a significant, positive step to support Washington research with high potential for commercialization through creation of the Life Sciences Discovery Fund. The LSDF Authority assembled private philanthropic support, enabling it to commence grant-making activities in 2007 – a year before public funds became available. Through November 2008, the LSDF Authority had awarded $31 million to 17 projects, one third of which involve Eastern-Western Washington collaboration. With this forward momentum, it is critical that state leaders sustain the commitment of public funds to the LSDF to support research with commercial potential that will improve human health, contribute to Washington’s economic vitality, and advance our position as a leader in the life sciences.
Provide “gap funding” to our universities to move promising research toward commercialization
Gap funds support projects that show commercial promise but are not yet ready to be licensed to an existing company or form the basis of a new company startup. Projects at this phase typically have moved past the point of eligibility for federal research funding, but still require additional proof-of-concept or prototype creation before they can attract early stage investment or a licensing agreement. To address this critical need and help move university research from the laboratory to the marketplace, the state should provide funding in the budget specifically for this purpose.
Entrepreneurial Climate
Support the growth of companies translating scientific discoveries and innovative technologies into new products, services and jobs in our state
Remove barriers to the state’s ability to work with the private sector to invest in innovation, commercialize new technologies, and build the industries of tomorrow
Washington has an opportunity, in this time of economic uncertainty, to take proactive measures that will ensure our state emerges from the national recession more nimble, more competitive, and better positioned to capitalize on our assets and seize new opportunities for economic growth through innovation. Specifically, the state should refocus and streamline its economic development infrastructure to make the most effective use of public resources, provide confidence and stability for private sector partners, and pursue a more coordinated approach to creating and sustaining the industries that will drive our future economic prosperity.
Our state also needs flexibility to respond to future challenges and opportunities. Many states have implemented programs to nurture the growth of emerging industries and partner with the private sector to commercialize and deploy new technologies. Currently, Washington’s options are severely limited by Article VIII, Sections 5 and 7 and Article XII, Section 9 of our state constitution, which together prohibit the state from making gifts or loans of money or credit or acquiring direct or indirect interest in stocks or bonds of a private entity. The TA recommends that Washington amend its constitution, with appropriate parameters to safeguard the public interest, in order to foster public-private collaboration and innovation.
Preserve state R&D tax incentives that support industry innovation
Washington currently provides to technology companies a credit against the business and occupation (B&O) tax for expenditures on research and development, and a deferral or waiver of sales tax for construction of R&D facilities. These incentives are among the few mechanisms in place specifically to promote innovation and the growth of technology companies in our state, particularly small companies: in 2007, more than half of the 508 firms claiming the B&O credit had fewer than 50 employees. These small firms produced nearly 2,700 new products or processes and initiated nearly 1,700 new research projects. Both incentives – set to expire in January 2015 – should be preserved and made permanent to help spur future innovation in Washington.
Partner with community-focused angel programs to provide resources and support to entrepreneurs
Angel investor organizations fulfill a critical need in our state by facilitating access to capital for growing, young companies and by cultivating a sophisticated and engaged entrepreneur and investor community through educational events and outreach. The state should, as part of its economic development strategy, partner with not-for-profit angel groups that have a track record of effectively engaging investors and entrepreneurs in Washington to build upon this existing infrastructure and expand its impact.
Advocate for sensible immigration policy that enables our state to attract and retain educated, entrepreneurial talent
While viewed as a federal policy issue, the ability to attract and retain talent is a significant state economic development issue. Our institutions and companies attract students, faculty and employees from all over the world, who perform groundbreaking research, attract new talent and funding, create new companies, and contribute to a critical mass of ideas, people, and firms that make us a center of innovation. We are among the top five states for number of public firms founded by foreign-born residents, who start 40% of all public, venture-backed technology companies in the U.S. Our state should be a vocal advocate for federal immigration policies that enable us to retain graduates who come from abroad to train at our universities and increase our ability to attract other educated, entrepreneurial talent to live and work in Washington and contribute to our economy.
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics.
^ The Global Challenge States are a group of eight states designated for their potential to succeed in the new economy: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington.