On The Issues – Higher Education Curriculum

During the 2024 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to
interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest.
In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and
the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on two important policies surrounding
Higher Education: declining enrollment and barriers to access.

Essential Questions

  • How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
  • To what extent is there bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature?
  • How is Washington State addressing decreasing accessibility to Higher Education?

20 minute Higher Education Lesson Plan

On Higher Education
Access to higher education and an equitable education across the state is an issue that is on the minds of many high school students and legislators. As students prepare to leave high school and enter the workforce, going to college might be on some people's minds, or they are are thinking about entering the workforce immediately. Either way, they are probably considering locations and the programs offered. They may be thinking about whether they are academically ready for college. These sorts of questions are also on the minds of legislators writing legislation in the Higher Education and Workforce Committee. Funding for higher education in the Operating Budget is about 15%. Washington state Representatives Alex Ybarra and Vandana Slatter take questions from House Legislative Page, Nikita Sharma asking what is being done in this short session to remove barriers to completing post secondary college. LESSON PLANS: 20 min Lesson Plan on Higher Education: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vN6eChCbYbDAT1i8sZKRR8H4CVasb7JZ/view?usp=sharing OR – Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing Discussion Questions: 1. Representative Ybarra speaks about the FAFSA. How does Representative Ybarra suggest that the legislature can help students and parents with financial aid? 2. Representative Slatter speaks to the need for all students to access some sort of post secondary education. How does she suggest that the legislature can help students and parents with financial aid? 3. How are the ideas of Representative Ybarra and Representative Slatter similar? How are they different? 4. What ideas resonate with you, and what follow up questions do you have for the Representatives that could help you solidify your position? On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. Learn more at: https://www.teachwithtvw.org #TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

Access to higher education and an equitable education across the state is an issue that is on the minds of many high school students and legislators. As students prepare to leave high school and enter the workforce, going to college might be on some people's minds, or they are are thinking about entering the workforce immediately. Either way, they are probably considering locations and the programs offered. They may be thinking about whether they are academically ready for college. These sorts of questions are also on the minds of legislators writing legislation in the Higher Education and Workforce Committee. Funding for higher education in the Operating Budget is about 15%.

Washington state Representatives Alex Ybarra and Vandana Slatter take questions from House Legislative Page, Nikita Sharma asking what is being done in this short session to remove barriers to completing post secondary college.

LESSON PLANS:
20 min Lesson Plan on Higher Education: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vN6eChCbYbDAT1i8sZKRR8H4CVasb7JZ/view?usp=sharing
OR –
Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day
On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing

Discussion Questions:
1. Representative Ybarra speaks about the FAFSA. How does Representative Ybarra suggest that the legislature can help students and parents with financial aid?
2. Representative Slatter speaks to the need for all students to access some sort of post secondary education. How does she suggest that the legislature can help students and parents with financial aid?
3. How are the ideas of Representative Ybarra and Representative Slatter similar? How are they different?
4. What ideas resonate with you, and what follow up questions do you have for the Representatives that could help you solidify your position?

On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

Learn more at: https://www.teachwithtvw.org

#TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

YouTube Video UEw3NUY4RTJydjRTRHZqcldkVDZyVWNucndROXpPRWk4TS41NkI0NEY2RDEwNTU3Q0M2
Access to higher education and an equitable education across the state is an issue that is on the minds of many high school students and legislators. As students prepare to leave high school and enter the workforce, going to college might be on some people's minds, or they are are thinking about entering the workforce immediately. Either way, they are probably considering locations and the programs offered. They may be thinking about whether they are academically ready for college. These sorts of questions are also on the minds of legislators writing legislation in the Higher Education and Workforce Committee. Funding for higher education in the Operating Budget is about 15%. Washington state Representatives Alex Ybarra and Vandana Slatter take questions from House Legislative Page, Maia Taylor asking what initiatives the legislature is doing to address declining enrollment in post secondary college. LESSON PLANS: 20 min Lesson Plan on Higher Education: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vN6eChCbYbDAT1i8sZKRR8H4CVasb7JZ/view?usp=sharing OR – Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing Discussion Questions: 1. Representative Slatter speaks about how COVID has affected declining enrollment. How does she think demographics play into this decline? 2. How does Representative Slatter think the legislature should get involved in helping those who do not think they can go to college? 3. Representative Ybarra speaks about the desire that students have to go to a four year school. What does he think the legislature should do to make changes to ensure that more people attend colleges? 4. How are the representatives’ ideas similar to one another? 5. What resonates with you, and what follow up questions do you have for the Representatives that could help you solidify your position? On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. Learn more at: https://www.teachwithtvw.org #teachwithtvw, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

Access to higher education and an equitable education across the state is an issue that is on the minds of many high school students and legislators. As students prepare to leave high school and enter the workforce, going to college might be on some people's minds, or they are are thinking about entering the workforce immediately. Either way, they are probably considering locations and the programs offered. They may be thinking about whether they are academically ready for college. These sorts of questions are also on the minds of legislators writing legislation in the Higher Education and Workforce Committee. Funding for higher education in the Operating Budget is about 15%.

Washington state Representatives Alex Ybarra and Vandana Slatter take questions from House Legislative Page, Maia Taylor asking what initiatives the legislature is doing to address declining enrollment in post secondary college.

LESSON PLANS:
20 min Lesson Plan on Higher Education: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vN6eChCbYbDAT1i8sZKRR8H4CVasb7JZ/view?usp=sharing
OR –
Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day
On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing

Discussion Questions:
1. Representative Slatter speaks about how COVID has affected declining enrollment. How does she think demographics play into this decline?
2. How does Representative Slatter think the legislature should get involved in helping those who do not think they can go to college?
3. Representative Ybarra speaks about the desire that students have to go to a four year school. What does he think the legislature should do to make changes to ensure that more people attend colleges?
4. How are the representatives’ ideas similar to one another?
5. What resonates with you, and what follow up questions do you have for the Representatives that could help you solidify your position?

On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

Learn more at: https://www.teachwithtvw.org

#teachwithtvw, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

YouTube Video UEw3NUY4RTJydjRTRHZqcldkVDZyVWNucndROXpPRWk4TS4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy

Want to give your students a deeper dive into the Legislative Committee process?

One Class Period Legislative Committees Lesson Plan

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