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Bill to use GET surplus for early‑childhood scholarships (SEEDS) draws broad support and technical caution
Summary
House Bill 2,438 (SEEDS) would use up to $10 million from the GET account (if funded status ≥120%) to cover up to 90 credits at community/technical colleges for eligible early‑education students, paired with wraparound supports and a two‑year service expectation. Providers, advocates and WASAC supported the pilot while WASAC flagged spending‑rule technicalities.
House Bill 2,438, the Supporting our Early Education Degree Seekers (SEEDS) scholarship, would provide up to 90 community‑college credits and student supports to eligible early‑childhood education degree seekers by directing up to $10 million from the state's GET (Guaranteed Education Tuition) account when the account remains at or above a 120% funded status.
Serena Ross summarized the bill and eligibility: students with family incomes between 65% and 150% of state median family income who have not previously earned an associate's degree, enroll at least part time, maintain satisfactory academic progress and commit to working at an early‑learning center for at least two years upon completion would be eligible. The Student Achievement Council and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges would be charged with a sustainability study and report to the Legislature.
Sponsor Representative Steve Bergquist described the bill as a small, targeted pilot to use GET surplus for workforce scholarships (cap in the bill: $10,000,000). He emphasized flexibility — there is no penalty if a participant cannot meet the service commitment due to life changes — and noted private philanthropic investments (Ballmer Group) expanding early‑learning slots that require more qualified staff.
Early‑learning providers, advocacy groups and students testified strongly in favor, calling the scholarship "workforce infrastructure." Joel Anderson of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WASAC) supported the goal but raised technical concerns that the bill's current language might conflict with statutory rules for how WAA529/GET funds are spent; WASAC offered a fix to create a new state account to sponsor the scholarship and transfer GET funds into it.
Committee members asked about long‑term solvency and possible sunset options; the sponsor said the bill includes a funded‑status cap and could include a sunset or reporting to measure outcomes.
Next steps: the committee closed the public hearing and may consider technical amendments to address WASAC's spending‑rule concerns before advancing the bill.
