On April 20, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5640, which allows technical college high schools to award diplomas to students who have completed their associate’s degree through the Technical College Direct Funded Enrollment Program without making them wait until they turn 21.

With the passage of the bill, upon successful completion of their program, all students will be awarded their diplomas. This legislation affects students at Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech), Bates Technical College and Clover Park Technical College.

“This legislation levels the playing field for our hard-working technical academy graduates,” LWTech President Dr. Amy Morrison Goings said. “Our graduates can now move forward with their lives, with their associate’s degree and their diploma in hand.”

From 2009 until Inslee signed the bill, there was a law in effect that prevented associate’s degree graduates of technical college high school programs from receiving their diplomas only because they weren’t 21. This has not only impacted their ability to join the workforce, but in many cases, their ability to attend college and receive financial aid.

45th District Rep. Larry Springer and 29th District Sen. Steve Conway sponsored the bill in the Legislature to get it to the governor’s desk. Goings and LWTech Principal/Dean of High School Programs Dr. Kim Infinger were in attendance at the bill signing.

“The LWTech community is especially grateful to Rep. Larry Springer for prime sponsoring the bill in the House,” Goings said. “He is a champion for our students and for the sustainable funding of our college.”

For more information about LWTech’s high school programs, visit lwtech.edu/academics/high-school.