2SHB 2438
In CommitteeHouse
Early education scholarship
Establishing the supporting our early education degree seekers scholarship.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a new scholarship to help low- and moderate-income Washington residents earn early childhood education credentials or degrees tuition-free, using surplus funds from the state’s college savings program. Recipients must commit to working in early learning for two years after graduation. The program begins in the 2027–28 academic year and includes support services to improve completion rates.
- Establishes the Supporting Our Early Education Degree Seekers Scholarship, offering up to 90 credits of tuition-free education at community or technical colleges for eligible early childhood education degrees or certificates.
- Sets eligibility criteria: family income between 65%–150% of state median, no prior associate degree, part-time or full-time enrollment in an eligible program, completion of financial aid applications, and a commitment to work in early learning for 2 years post-graduation.
- Provides funding for tuition and service/activities fees, after subtracting other state or federal gift aid, and includes support for wraparound services (e.g., advising, childcare) to help students succeed.
- Requires the Student Achievement Council to conduct a study on the scholarship’s impact—including enrollment, completion, and workforce outcomes—and report findings to the legislature by October 1, 2027.
- Includes a sunset clause: the study requirement expires on July 1, 2028, and the new chapter becomes part of Title 28B RCW.
Who is affected
- Low- to moderate-income students pursuing early childhood education — Low- to moderate-income Washington residents (family income between 65% and 150% of state median) seeking early childhood education credentials or degrees may receive tuition-free education and support services.
- Community and technical colleges — Community and technical colleges will administer the scholarship, provide wraparound services, and report on student outcomes.
- Office of Student Financial Assistance — The Office of Student Financial Assistance will manage program operations, including eligibility determinations and disbursement of funds.
- Early learning centers and child care providers — Early learning providers may benefit from a more stable, qualified workforce as scholarship recipients commit to working in early learning for at least two years after graduation.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The scholarship targets low- and moderate-income families (65%–150% of state median), ensuring that the majority of beneficiaries are working-class households—not high-income households—by design. The income eligibility range excludes only the top ~35% of Washington households, making this a broadly inclusive anti-poverty tool.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(a)Wraparound services are explicitly tied to completion outcomes and are only provided while the student receives scholarship benefits, ensuring cost-effectiveness while directly supporting vulnerable students most at risk of dropping out.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(b)The two-year service commitment creates a pipeline of trained early childhood educators into underserved sectors, addressing a documented crisis: 58% of families report difficulty finding child care (up from 22% in 2021), disproportionately affecting women’s labor force participation.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(e)Funding is drawn from a surplus in the Washington Advanced College Tuition Payment Program Account (funded at 178% actuarially), with a statutory safeguard that funding only occurs if the account remains ≥120% funded—protecting long-term solvency while repurposing idle surplus for high-need students.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)The requirement for the Student Achievement Council to report on enrollment, persistence, and workforce outcomes by October 2027 creates accountability and evidence-based evaluation, supporting future legislative decisions on program expansion or adjustment.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 7
Potential Concerns (5)
The scholarship directly reduces out-of-pocket costs for low- and moderate-income students (family income 65%–150% of state median) pursuing early childhood education credentials or degrees, covering tuition and service/activities fees after other gift aid is subtracted—up to 90 credits over three years. This effectively provides tuition-free education for eligible students, removing a major financial barrier to entering the early learning workforce.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(a)The inclusion of wraparound services (e.g., advising, childcare, transportation support) directly addresses non-tuition barriers to completion that disproportionately affect low-income students, improving odds of degree/certificate attainment and workforce entry.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1) & Sec. 4(2)(b)The two-year service commitment in early learning creates a more stable, qualified workforce for early childhood programs, which have been experiencing severe staffing shortages—nearly 50% of centers report vacancies due to staffing issues.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(e)By codifying the scholarship in statute and requiring a legislative report by October 2027, the bill creates a durable program structure, reducing risk of future defunding and enabling long-term planning by colleges and early learning providers.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 7 (new chapter in Title 28B RCW)A more stable, credentialed early learning workforce may contribute to improved child safety and developmental outcomes, as research shows higher staff qualifications correlate with better quality care and reduced child maltreatment risk.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(a)
Who Is Most Affected
Directly benefits from reduced or zero tuition, wraparound support, and career pathway stability. Low-income students in this group are most likely to be women of color, who are overrepresented in early learning but underpaid and overburdened by debt. The service commitment ensures career continuity and wage progression over time.
May see increased enrollment in early childhood programs and improved student outcomes, but also increased administrative burden and potential strain on advising and support staff. However, the $10M allocation includes wraparound services funding, partially offsetting costs.
Will gain new administrative responsibilities (eligibility determinations, disbursement), but the bill explicitly assigns this to the Office of Student Financial Assistance, which already administers similar programs (e.g., College Bound, Washington College Grant), minimizing incremental cost.
Will benefit from a more stable, credentialed workforce, reducing turnover and improving quality ratings. This is especially valuable given that 58% of families report child care access difficulties and 50% of centers report staffing vacancies.