[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE EARL

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Charlie 
Earl for his exemplary record of public service to the Washington State 
Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the people of Washington 
State.
  Charlie Earl will retire on July 31, 2012, after more than 40 years 
of public service in the State's higher education system and a variety 
of government positions. He most recently served for 6 years as the 
executive director of the Washington State Board for Community and 
Technical Colleges and 7 years as president of Everett Community 
College. As the executive director, Charlie worked to increase public 
access to higher education while enhancing the quality of Washington 
State's career and technical education system. All the while, the past 
several years have seen the most difficult economic environment in 
Washington State's recent history. As our State budget tightened, 
spending on our community colleges decreased by 22 percent, but this 
did not stop Charlie from developing a vision for the State and leading 
toward it with energy, passion, and commitment.
  While Charlie served as executive director, he propelled Washington's 
community and technical colleges to be among the most innovative in the 
country. Charlie's leadership supported the development and expansion 
of the Washington State student achievement performance award, 
opportunity grants, 4-year applied baccalaureate degrees, an open 
course library, and the Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training, 
I-BEST, Program. These changes allowed for many students to return to 
school to earn their diploma or certificate or learn new skills 
required of the 21st century workforce. The I-BEST Program challenges 
the traditional notion that students must complete all basic education 
before they can begin postsecondary education or training. This model 
allowed students to move through school, earn degrees, and join the 
skilled workforce faster and with less cost to the student, State, and 
Federal Government. I am not alone in seeing this as a revolutionary 
model in adult education. In 2011, the I-BEST Program was named a 
``Bright Idea'' by Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and 
is being replicated in 20 other States. All of this would not have been 
possible if not for Charlie's leadership, advocacy, and stewardship of 
the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Education and 
its staff.
  During Charlie's tenure, enrollment increased at Washington's 34 
colleges by 80,000 students. This was clearly no small feat. Washington 
State has also seen the largest increase in certificates and degrees 
since the community and technical college system began tracking this 
statistic. This was achieved not simply because more students are 
enrolling in career and technical education but because more students 
are reaching important academic goals and building momentum to finish 
their academic program. As you can clearly see, Charlie worked 
tirelessly to promote student access, and ensure all students are 
making timely progress towards their education and career goals. The 
achievements of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical 
Colleges during Charlie's tenure as executive director have been 
remarkable.
  Charlie graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's 
degree in finance and from Washington State University with a master of 
arts degree in political science. He serves as chair of the National 
Council of State Directors of Community Colleges, is a past president 
of the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, and 
has been a board member of the Washington Council on Aerospace, 
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, Early Learning 
Advisory Council, Governor's Job Creation Subcabinet, and National 
Governors' Association Compete to Complete Advisory Group. Charlie's 
entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to student success 
will be sorely missed. I join with many in Washington State in 
congratulating Charlie on his achievements, and I look forward to 
seeing all that he will accomplish in his retirement.

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