Washington’s economy and communities experienced a major disruption in the wake of COVID-19, and the trajectory of the virus remains unknown. During the 2021 legislative session, the Washington Roundtable’s efforts will focus on advancing policies that support diverse and inclusive recovery.
In 2021, we will urge lawmakers to:
- Deliver a biennial budget that addresses projected revenue shortfalls in a manner that prioritizes services most important to long-term recovery, namely education and infrastructure.
- Avoid burdening employers with added costs that will dampen recovery.
- Pass a transportation revenue package that supports continued implementation of the 2015 Connecting Washington investment package; invests in maintenance, preservation, and culverts; supports new projects in key economic corridors; and improves mobility in urban centers.
- Support policies that promote economic development and job growth, particularly strategies to expand broadband availability and mitigate increases in unemployment insurance taxes.
- Encourage the immediate actions needed at the local level to safely return Washington’s K-12 students to in-person instruction as soon as possible.
- Support continued use of high-quality diagnostic tools that enable schools, educators, and families to assess student learning loss incurred during the pandemic.
- Maintain the state’s commitment to high school graduation pathways as passed by the 2019 Legislature.
- Support policies that accelerate postsecondary enrollment and credential attainment for students furthest from opportunity, particularly our Black, Hispanic and Latinx, Indigenous and Native American, and other students who face structural racial barriers and inequity.
- Expand student access to high-quality dual-credit and dual-enrollment opportunities.
- Protect investments in financial aid, student supports, and services that drive credential attainment.
- Support student access to high-quality career connected learning opportunities.
Read our full 2021 Policy Agenda here, and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.