The Chamber

To remain competitive in the global marketplace, an educated citizenry is key. This means that Washington State must commit to reaching a new standard of excellence in its educational system making access to educational opportunities at all levels a primary focus. To achieve this goal, the Chambers support:

• Increased production of bachelor's degrees in the region in high demand fields through:
• Creation of a 4-year university in Snohomish County with a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) emphasis
• Expansion of alternative post secondary education options (university center, expanded partnerships with four year institutions) at local community colleges
• Opportunities that encourage and strengthen early childhood education programs
• Competitive professional compensation and benefits to attract and retain best educators
• Strong workplace training programs to prepare students to meet the demanding challenges in today’s job market
• Improved math and science education at the K-12 level
• Increased production of community college technical/professional degrees and certificates that meet local needs in emerging technology and other high demand fields