News and perspective on public policy issues affecting Washington's economy and quality of life, brought to you by the Economic Opportunity Institute.
State Senate Leader Rodney Tom and other state legislators are mulling an end to Washington’s popular Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program. Their contention: GET doesn’t operate in the black. The real problem: their own higher ed budget cuts have jacked up college tuition. Tom says GET has put the state $631 million in the hole. That’s […]
Many of our state lawmakers got where they are today thanks to the affordable education they received at Washington State’s public universities. So how does the opportunity they enjoyed compare to what they are offering this year’s freshman class? The chart above graphs total tuition and fees—adjusted for inflation—paid by a range of lawmakers for […]
A recent report shows why education may be key to lowering the unemployment rate. In a nod to the increasing importance of a college degree, a report from the Brookings Institution finds a shortage of educated workers is keeping unemployment high – and holding back economic recovery. Following a study of the largest 100 metro […]
Today there is plenty of evidence the American Dream is in serious trouble. A recent Federal Reserve study found median household net worth has dropped almost 40% since 2007. With the cost of higher education skyrocketing, how can the next generation have more opportunity – or even the same opportunity – as we did? EOI […]
