Late yesterday Governor Inslee released his plan for education for the 2015-17 biennium. The plan, which extends across the continuum including early learning, K-12 and higher education, provides a $2.3 billion investment in the success of students from preschool to college.

In a statewide virtual town hall this evening, Governor Inslee shared the slate of education proposals.  The Governor’s budget would expand the state’s preschool program and provide $1.3 billion for basic education funding.  With regard to higher education, the Governor’s proposal:

• Continues the current tuition freeze for resident, undergraduate students
• Provides funding to meet increased demand for the state’s College Bound Scholarship program
• Provides funding to meet the state’s contribution to the public-private Opportunity Scholarship program, which offers financial aid to qualified students in the STEM and health care fields
• Expands advanced computer science and engineering programs at the research universities
• Increases production of math and science graduates at the regional universities and Evergreen
• Funds the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program at the community colleges
• Increases job training and basic education access at the community and technical colleges for adults without a high school diploma
• Targets industry investments to add aerospace apprenticeships, operate the composite wing incumbent worker training program and offer maritime licensing training program at the community colleges.

The overview is part of a week long rollout of the Governor’s 2015-17 biennial budget.  On Tuesday the Governor will release details regarding transportation followed by climate change on Wednesday. The full budget will be released on Thursday morning.