Everyone should have access to the opportunities they need to design the future they want. That core belief drives the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work around the world and in our home state of Washington, where we work at the local, regional, and state level.

Across the state, we focus on education, which we believe is essential to giving young people control over their own lives today and into the future. Nearly 90 percent of Washington’s high schoolers say they want to continue their education after high school. But today, only 50 percent of Washington’s high school graduates complete postsecondary programs. Together with the local schools, colleges, and organizations that know their communities best, we believe we can help close that gap.

Our Washington State team will work with local and regional partners to help students see a clear path to success in the careers they choose, with an emphasis on young people who face the highest barriers including Black, Latino, and Indigenous students; students from low-income backgrounds; and rural students. That begins with helping students take the next step in their education journeys after high school—whether that’s enrolling in a trade school, apprenticeship program, or two- or four-year college.

We plan to support locally led collaborations across Washington state that help students continue their education beyond high school and achieve their aspirations. We’re committing approximately $75 million over the next four years for this work, which builds on our local investments in education over the last 20 years while expanding to all corners of Washington state.