Education is a proven pathway out of poverty, but many students in Washington State struggle to persist or complete educational programs because they cannot meet their basic needs for food, mental + behavioral healthcare, childcare, housing, or support to navigate existing systems.
These conditions disproportionately impact low-income students, particularly those who are Black, indigenous + people of color (BIPOC), first-generation, or parenting students. Now is a more critical time than ever to invest in their success.
The PSBN Coalition supports policy reforms that:
Expand student access to resources that fulfill their basic needs.
Center students that education systems have systemically marginalized.
Remove barriers to educational persistence and completion.
The PSBN Coalition has over 375 individual members from across Washington State, including students, school administrators, state agency officials, policymakers, private philanthropists + nonprofit service providers.
The lead + supporting partners for our 2024 advocacy agenda are:
Anti-Hunger + Nutrition Coalition
Communities for Our Colleges, Just Strategy
Washington State Association of Head Start + ECEAP
Washington State Board for Community + Technical Colleges
United Way of King County
Washington Campus Children's Center Coalition
Washington Student Association
Washington Student Achievement Council