Washington State has made significant strides in adopting the Guided Pathways model to enhance student success in its community and technical colleges. This strategic framework is designed to clarify paths to student completion, ensuring every student receives structured and tailored support throughout their academic journey. Here’s a timeline highlighting the key milestones in the implementation of Guided Pathways across Washington’s higher education landscape.
2015: Washington Joins the National Guided Pathways Movement
In 2015, Washington colleges actively engaged with the national Guided Pathways movement spearheaded by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Recognizing the potential of this framework, three pioneering Washington institutions—Pierce College District, Skagit Valley College, and South Seattle College—joined the inaugural cohort of the AACC Guided Pathways Project. This project aimed to equip community colleges nationwide with the resources and expertise to implement Guided Pathways effectively. The AACC project built upon foundational reports like the 2012 Twenty-first Century Commission’s “Reclaiming the American Dream” and the 2014 “Empowering Community Colleges to Build the Nation’s Future” guide, demonstrating a commitment to data-driven and experience-based strategies for student achievement. Washington’s early adoption signaled a proactive approach to improving educational outcomes through guided and structured pathways.
2016: Launch of CSW Guided Pathways and the WA Student Success Center
2016 marked a pivotal year with the launch of the College Spark Washington (CSW) Guided Pathways initiative. CSW committed over $7 million to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and a first cohort of Guided Pathways colleges over an eight-year period. Five colleges—Everett Community College, Peninsula College, Pierce College District, South Puget Sound Community College, and South Seattle College—were selected for the first CSW cohort, each receiving a $500,000 grant over five years to deeply integrate Guided Pathways into their institutional structures.
Parallel to the CSW initiative, SBCTC became part of the national Student Success Center Network, sponsored by Jobs for the Future (JFF) and generously funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This collaboration led to the establishment of the Washington Student Success Center. Joining 13 other states in this national network, Washington aimed to foster collaboration, share best practices, and break down knowledge silos across community and technical colleges nationwide, all with a focus on guided student support systems.
April 2017: State Legislature Pledges Initial Funding for Guided Pathways
The Washington State Legislature demonstrated its commitment to Guided Pathways in April 2017 by approving $3 million for the SBCTC over two years. This funding was specifically designated to support SBCTC and early adopter colleges in their Guided Pathways implementation efforts during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years. The funding was distributed to the initial 12 early adopter colleges, encompassing both CSW and AACC cohort participants, further solidifying state-level support for guided educational reforms.
January 2018: Expansion with CSW Guided Pathways Cohort 2 Colleges
Building on the momentum, CSW and SBCTC announced the second cohort of Guided Pathways colleges in January 2018. Five additional colleges—Clover Park Technical College, Lower Columbia Community College, Renton Technical College, Spokane Falls Community College, and Tacoma Community College—joined this phase. Mirroring the first cohort, each college received a $500,000 grant over five years to implement Guided Pathways, expanding the reach and impact of this student-centered approach across more institutions.
April 2019: Workforce Education Investment Act Secures Long-Term Funding
A landmark achievement arrived in April 2019 with the passage of the Workforce Education Investment Act (HB 2158). This act provided dedicated state funding for Guided Pathways implementation to all 34 Washington community and technical colleges. An initial allocation of $2 million was provided to SBCTC for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, followed by a substantial $30.1 million specifically for Guided Pathways implementation in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. This legislative action underscored the state’s long-term investment in guided pathways as a core strategy for workforce development and student success in higher education.
Washington State’s journey with Guided Pathways showcases a phased and strategic approach, starting with early adopters and expanding to statewide implementation. Through a combination of state legislative support, philanthropic investment, and national collaborations, Washington is creating a guided system designed to improve student outcomes and strengthen its workforce.
