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Bill

SB 5164

Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jess Bateman and 16 co-sponsors

Washington creates navigational support programs to guide students toward postsecondary enrollment, targeting underrepresented populations to increase college access and completion rates.

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
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Bill Summary · SB 5164

Legislative bill overview

SB 5164 establishes student navigational support programs designed to help students—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—navigate the pathway to postsecondary education and increase enrollment rates. The bill likely funds counseling, mentoring, and guidance services to remove barriers to college access and completion.

Why is this important

Postsecondary education is increasingly tied to economic mobility and career opportunities, yet many students—especially low-income and first-generation students—lack adequate guidance to navigate complex college systems. Improved navigational supports can reduce information gaps, increase college enrollment rates, and help close achievement gaps between demographic groups.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism and cost: The bill was referred to Ways & Means, indicating fiscal concerns about how these support services will be funded and whether the budget impact is justified given competing state priorities
  • Implementation responsibility: Unclear whether schools, community colleges, or a new state entity would deliver these services, potentially creating coordination challenges or redundancy with existing programs
  • Accountability metrics: Questions about how success will be measured and whether the state can demonstrate meaningful increases in postsecondary enrollment to justify ongoing investment

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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