A  new marketing campaign promoting Washington’s Lottery as a source of funding for higher education financial aid programs is expected in the coming months.

At the direction of the 2010 Legislature, Washington’s Lottery can now be used to partly fund the State Need Grant, State Work Study, Washington Scholars, the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE), and other programs.

The HECB is working with Washington’s Lottery to communicate this news statewide. Senate Bill 6409, prime-sponsored by Senator Jim Kastama, established a Lottery-funded Opportunity Pathways account, from which funds can be directed to student financial aid and early learning programs.

In the current Fiscal Year 2011, about 65 percent ($73.5 million) of Lottery dollars in the Opportunity Pathways account will be used to help fund the State Need Grant program, and 35 percent ($40 million) will support early learning programs.

Other funding for these programs will come from the General Fund. Lottery proceeds that previously contributed to K-12 construction projects will continue to be funded at $102 million under the General Fund.

General Fund appropriations for financial aid were reduced significantly in the 2011 supplemental budget. It is hoped that greater awareness about the Lottery’s contribution to higher education scholarships and financial aid will spur increased public support, reducing the need for General Fund appropriations.