Highlighted in Christine Gregoire's state of the state address Tuesday was the need to propel Washington state into the 21st century. Her proposal for accomplishing this: increased funding — at all levels — for Washington state education.

"Washington families have a bright future because we have decided the status quo is not good enough," Gregoire said.

Accountability was a reoccurring theme in the governor's address, stressing the importance of not only increased funding for education, but increases in academic performance as well.

Gregoire proposed a complete overhaul of the education system, saying Washington students are languishing in an outdated education system designed for the 20th century.

"We need an education system families can rely on to prepare our children for the global economy of the 21st century," she said.

Gregoire said the key to Washington state's future economic success was through education — especially in the areas of math and science.

She said America is beat by countries like China and India in areas of math and science education, citing figures that list foreign employment by Washington companies like Microsoft and Boeing at 30 percent.

Gregoire said Washington schools and universities are having a hard time producing the number of skilled professionals required by highly competitive and increasingly technical industries.

"We need to shred the Cascade curtain to create one Washington and expand the economy to bring family wage supporting jobs everywhere," Gregoire said.

The governor cited plans in her budget proposal, which allocate $4.5 million new funding dollars for the Spokane branch of UW's School of Medicine, as well as increasing the number of enrollment slots at Washington state universities by 3,300 in the areas of nursing, engineering and medical doctor education as a place to start.

Gregoire also called for improvement of education by implementing the following:

• Freezing tuition at community colleges

• A 5 percent cap on annual tuition increases at Washington universities, and a cap of 7 percent at Washington research universities (UW and WSU).

• Reduction of classroom student-to-educator ratios.

• Making college entrance accessible to all Washingtonians, regardless of economic status.

"Just in case anybody thinks we can rest on our laurels, I have a message for you, you ain't seen nothing yet," Gregoire said.

Reach reporter Brian Slodysko at brianslodysko@thedaily.washington.edu.