Led by the Washington Community and Technical College Students Association (WACTCSA), with support from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), the OER & Low-Cost Labeling Policies were legislated in 2020 (RCW 28B.50.789).

This was an outcome of a 4-year long statewide collaboration between Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges, a state government agency (SBCTC), and a student leadership association (WACTCSA) through multiple rounds of consensus-building processes. Since then the policy has been implemented in Washington’s 34 colleges, supporting students in making informed choices on at the time of course registration.

The Washington Community and Technical College Student Association played a pivotal role in promoting these policies by spearheading surveys that garnered an impressive response of over 10,000 student submissions within a mere two-month period. Furthermore, they proactively engaged with college leadership to discuss the policies and actively lobbied state legislatures during the legislative session for their support. By actively involving students in the policy establishment process, their unique perspectives and needs were given due consideration, ensuring that the policies align with the interests of those directly impacted by them. This student-led approach has truly set these policies apart and serves as a testament to their relevance and effectiveness.