The Seattle Times reports on a new study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education that highlights Washington State’s lack of bachelors capacity, which “forces employers to go out of state — and even out of the country — to find skilled workers.” The report “puts the blame largely on state leadership — especially Gov. Chris Gregoire, but also state legislators — for what the authors call a ‘policy leadership vacuum.'” The authors also “noted Washington’s four-year schools have high graduation rates compared with their peers in other states, and costs still are relatively low, meaning the system is fairly efficient.”
Seattle Times article here.
Executive summary of the Penn report here (pdf). Full report here (pdf). Presentation graphics here (pdf).
Grim data on STEM education at all levels in Washington State here (pdf).