In 2023, the state Legislature mandated a universal online statewide HSBP platform. Before this legislation, over a dozen different platforms were used by school districts across the state, causing variations in resources and tools offered to students depending on the place where they lived. Additionally, students who transferred between districts during middle and high school often encountered different platforms at their new schools, forcing them to restart their post-high school plans. In May of 2024, SchooLinks, Inc. was selected as the universal HSBP platform vendor. All school districts must transition to SchooLinks for their HSBP by fall of 2026. 

This past legislative session, the Legislature protected basic education as much as possible but cut nearly $100 million in grants and supplemental programs offered by school districts, non-profit education partners, and others. This has forced our agency to reconsider how we fulfill our required responsibilities and maintain the continuity of services for our schools and students. Continuation of this multi-year project to move to a universal HSBP platform was not funded for the current fiscal year, despite the requirement for all school districts across Washington to use a single platform. As a result, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is using limited discretionary funds at OSPI to fund district use of this universal platform for one more school year until the Legislature can provide the required funding. 

“Utilizing a universal High School and Beyond Plan platform is not only incredibly beneficial for our students and their futures—it is required of districts by law,” said Reykdal. “My agency has a limited amount of discretionary funding to keep this platform up and running for one more year. The Legislature has an obligation to provide permanent funding for this statutory requirement, and we will be back in Olympia in the supplemental session to request it. By providing funding and statewide scale, school districts can use local funds for other needs, and students and families get a more equitable and consistent opportunity to explore and plan for their future goals.” 

Ensuring access to the universal online HSBP platform for another year empowers students and families across Washington to access beneficial services the platform provides, including but not limited to: 

• Ability for parents, guardians, and families to learn about how their students’ interests and skills connect to potential career and college opportunities as a means of helping them make informed course decisions and stay engaged in school; 

• Capability for a student’s HSBP to move more seamlessly from district to district, which is especially important for highly mobile populations; 

• Opportunities for students and families to directly connect with school counselors and educators; 

• Capability for students and families to access the platform in 100+ languages; 

• Options to explore trade, apprenticeship, and military career opportunities; 

• Ability for students to connect with local employers, internships, job shadowing offerings, and career-connected opportunities based on their career interests; 

• Access to essential career and college preparation events, such as career, college, and financial aid fairs; and 

• Assistance for students and families to better understand and navigate the college application, financial aid, and scholarship processes. 

The HSBP platform also benefits Washington’s workforce and taxpayers by offering a significant tool for state and district budgeting that: 

• Informs the future of Washington’s workforce by elevating awareness of students’ interests in entering the trades, enlisting in the military, and attending a two- or four-year college or university; 

• Informs future higher education program building and resource allocation based on five years' worth of student career and college interest data documented within the platform; and 

• Informs district decision making around needed program development, course development, and teacher training. 

“The High School and Beyond Platform is a valuable tool for our students, their families, and our state as a whole,” said Reykdal. “I am grateful to our Legislators for their work to prioritize the use of a universal platform that serves all students and districts across Washington and urge them to make it a funding priority next session. Our students and their bright futures are empowered by this affordable and scalable statewide solution.” 

         For More Information 

• Video: Why SchooLinks? | WA High School and Beyond Plan (published June 10, 2025) 

• Webpage: High School and Beyond Plan (last updated April 7, 2025)