Washington Revised Code Title 28B. Higher Education § 28B.50.020. Purpose

(1) Offer an open door to every citizen, regardless of his or her academic background or experience, at a cost normally within his or her economic means;

(2) Ensure that each college district, in coordination with adjacent college districts, shall offer thoroughly comprehensive educational, training, and service programs to meet the needs of both the communities and students served by combining high standards of excellence in academic transfer courses; realistic and practical courses in occupational education, both graded and ungraded; community services of an educational, cultural, and recreational nature; and adult education, including basic skills and general, family, and workforce literacy programs and services;

(3) Provide for basic skills and literacy education, and occupational education and technical training in order to prepare students for careers in a competitive workforce;

(4) Provide or coordinate related and supplemental instruction for apprentices at community and technical colleges;

(5) Provide administration by state and local boards which will avoid unnecessary duplication of facilities, programs, student services, or administrative functions; and which will encourage efficiency in operation and creativity and imagination in education, training, and service to meet the needs of the community and students;

(6) Allow for the growth, improvement, flexibility and modification of the community colleges and their education, training, and service programs as future needs occur; and

(7) Establish firmly that as provided under RCW 28B.50.810, community colleges are, for purposes of academic training, two year institutions, and are an independent, unique, and vital section of our state's higher education system, separate from both the common school system and other institutions of higher learning.