Passport to Careers Program History
Helping Washington Students Since 2007
The Passport to Careers program is a publicly-funded scholarship and support program that helps Washington students—specifically those who have been in various types of foster care or who have experienced unaccompanied homelessness—prepare for careers. Learn about the program’s history and years of impact.
Passport to Careers Timeline
2007
The Passport to College Promise Scholarship was created as a six-year pilot program by the state of Washington to help increase high school completion, college enrollment, and college completion rates for youth in state foster care.
2008
Passport to College was founded soon after the Passport to College Promise Scholarship pilot program was established.
2012
The pilot program was made permanent in the 2012 legislative session.
2018
Washington State Legislature expanded eligibility to youth impacted by state foster care, tribal foster care, the federal unaccompanied refugee minors’ program, interstate compact program, and to unaccompanied homeless youth to prepare for careers through two program pathways (Passport to College and Passport to Apprenticeship). The program evolved to what is now known as Passport to Careers, providing eligible young people with scholarship funds and support services while in college or apprenticeship for up to 6 years.
2024
Washington State Legislature expanded eligibility to increase scholarship length for up to 18 quarters (or the equivalent) and removed maximum age limit (27) from the program.
Passport to Careers By the Numbers
Young people served by the Passport program
Since its inception in 2008, WPN’s Passport program has served nearly 10k young people.
