Legislative Update for the week of April 25th

Happy Friday! The official end of session is just days away. Sunday, April 27, is Sine Die and the final day for lawmakers to finalize a budget that both chambers and the governor all agree upon. As of now, the legislature has already passed 170 bills, which is quite an accomplishment. However, debates over amendments and budget-trailer bills are making the last few days difficult, with loads left to do and little agreement on how to actually do it. Arguably, the most important item on the “to-do list,” is passing the state’s operating budget that will fund the next two years. The final operating budget is required to be posted publicly for 24 hours, before lawmakers can take a final vote. The state is facing an estimated $15 billion dollar operating budget shortfall over the next four years. 

Despite the back and forth and the various budget proposals that have been presented to Governor Ferguson over the last few weeks, legislators are making progress and are hopeful that their goal of passing an operating budget by Sunday will be reached. “We have made all the decisions, but there’s still a lot of pieces that have to fall into place,” said Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and chief architect of the Senate operating budget proposal.” The latest proposals bring a smaller “wealth tax,” back to the negotiating table. A policy that was previously rejected by Governor Ferguson. At this point in the session, no new legislation can be submitted, and no new policy bills can be considered, unless they have funding attached.

This brings me back to “budget-trailer,” bills and policy bills that have funding attached to them. Such bills can be hard to follow because they are typically submitted late in the session, in some cases bypass policy committees altogether, and are often not bound to scheduled cut-offs. These bills tend to rear their heads toward the end of session when budget negotiations are in full swing. A couple of these cost-saving examples of education-related budget-trailer bills are; EHB 2044, which would change the way public schools deal with truancy courts, instead working closer with Community Engagement Boards (CEBs), to battle chronic absenteeism. Another is HB 2050, which would change the calculation for a school district’s local effort assistance (LEA). Both of these bills would provide large amounts of savings for the state if passed and implemented.

Bills Signed into Law

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. 

ESHB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events. 

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs. 

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. 

Bills Delivered to Governor Ferguson for Signature:

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements. 

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process.

SSB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. 

House Bills We’re Following:

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to the delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees. The bill has passed both chambers.

ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and Senate President.

HB 2044: which would ​​eliminate the requirement that school districts file a truancy petition with the juvenile court after any child has seven unexcused absences in a month and no later than the fifteenth unexcused absence in a school year, and removes related truancy petition provisions. It also requires school districts, for any child aged 6 or 7, to either enter into an attendance agreement with the child and parent, or refer the child to a Community Engagement Board (CEB) after the seventh unexcused absence in a month and no later than the fifteenth unexcused absence in a school year. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and is scheduled for executive session on April 25th.

HB 2050: which would change the monthly apportionment schedule for allocations to public schools in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years and would limit the alternative learning experience enrollment used to calculate Local Effort Assistance (LEA) to 33 percent of a school district’s total enrollment. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and is scheduled for executive session on April 25th.

Senate Bills We’re Following:

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the Senate President and the House Speaker.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians, and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee. 

ESSB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

Odds and Ends

Some sad and unexpected news here, last Saturday, Washington Sen. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, died unexpectedly. You can read more about his life’s work and commitment to his constituents here.

On a lighter note, girls’ flag football is now sanctioned by the WIAA. Read more from The Seattle Times, Girls Flag Football Becomes the First New Sanctioned Sport Since 1999.

Legislative Update for the week of April 18th

Happy Friday! We have arrived at the last full week of the 2025 Legislative Session. Sine Die is Scheduled for Sunday, April 27. However, lawmakers still have quite a bit on their “to-do” list to accomplish. Wednesday, April 16, was the cut-off for the opposite house, and the final cut-off for the 2025 Legislative Session.  All bills still sitting in their respective “rules,” committees had to be assigned to the floor schedule and heard by legislators. But in all honesty, it’s the budget drama and the impending session deadline that is ratcheting up the heat in Olympia. On Thursday,The Seattle Times reported that Democratic budget writers have now backed off their original proposal for a new wealth tax. “Instead, they’ve dialed up a slew of increases to existing taxes, cobbling together a package that would raise an estimated $12 billion over the next four years.”

The back and forth between legislators regarding the “parents’ rights,” bills that are both still in play, has gotten quite a bit of press this last week. Two Democratic sponsored bills, SB 5181 and ESHB 1296, seek changes to the 2024 Republican-backed initiative 2081, commonly known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. Both of these bills continue to move toward Governor Ferguson’s desk despite repeated objections from Republican lawmakers.“Throughout the session, the debate has developed into a broader discussion of Washington’s public school policies around inclusive learning environments and students’ access to mental health care,” reported The Seattle Times.

The original initiative specified 15 rights for parents and guardians of public school students, such as the right to be notified of certain safety, medical, and law enforcement related issues and the right to request certain records. According to reporting by The Washington State Standard, “Some of the biggest changes Senate Bill 5181 would make to the law passed last year are around parents’ access to their children’s medical records, including for mental health counseling.”

On Wednesday, House lawmakers amended, and then voted 97-0 to pass SB 5263, which would eliminate the cap on special education funding, and fully fund special education in Washington’s public schools. As reported in the Washington State Standard, the amended bill that passed also “adjusted two other funding levers in the bill to drive more dollars for special education to the state’s 295 school districts. All told, roughly $870 million more will be sent out over the next two budgets. That sum is a compromise with the Senate, which wanted to spend closer to $2 billion.” 

Bills Delivered to Governor Ferguson for Signature:

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. 

ESHB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events. 

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs. 

House Bills We’re Following:

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill has passed out of the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to the delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee. From the Washington State Standard, Rewrite of Parental Rights Law Passes Washington House.

ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs. The bill has passed both chambers.

HB 2044: which would ​​eliminate the requirement that school districts file a truancy petition with the juvenile court after any child has seven unexcused absences in a month and no later than the fifteenth unexcused absence in a school year, and removes related truancy petition provisions. It also requires school districts, for any child aged 6 or 7, to either enter into an attendance agreement with the child and parent, or refer the child to a Community Engagement Board (CEB) after the seventh unexcused absence in a month and no later than the fifteenth unexcused absence in a school year. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

Senate Bills We’re Following:

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians, and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee. 

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the Senate President and House Speaker.

SB 5737: which reduces the annual bonuses for instructional staff with a National Board Certificate starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Odds and Ends

“IDEA is one of the primary ways the federal government contributes to educating disabled students. The law enshrines the right of every child to “a free and appropriate public education.” From KQED’s MindShift, How the Education Department Helps Students with Disabilities Get an Education.

AI helping close gaps amongst those, “linguistically disadvantaged?” From The Olympian, International Students May be Among the Biggest Beneficiaries of ChatGPT.

Legislative Update for the Week of April 11

Tuesday, April 8 was the fiscal cut-off for the opposite chamber. Fiscal committees held marathon sessions over the weekend, hearing testimony on a slew of bills from policy committees. This part of the session can feel a bit tricky, with some bills being overlooked and others being categorized as, “necessary to implement the budget,” or NCIB, and kept alive through cut-off. The cut-off for the opposite house comes next Wednesday, April 16. By that date bills still sitting in rules committees will need to be scheduled and heard on the floor of their respective chamber in order to stay alive.

There were several casualties from Tuesday’s cut-off, but many of the big-ticket bills are still in play. One bill that failed to make it out of the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday was SSB 5123, that focused on inclusivity in schools. This bill was sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles, D-Fircrest, and would have added protections, “for ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status and neurodivergence. It also would have also established new classes to specifically defend against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity,” reported the Washington State Standard.

As for the budget woes, and/or budget negotiations, a lot will happen behind closed doors over the upcoming weeks, which is usual protocol for budget writers. Last week, Governor Ferguson voiced his concerns with the proposed budgets from both the House and Senate, making it clear that the use of a “wealth tax,” was not an option he wanted to pursue. However, this viewpoint has left many unsettled and on Wednesday, hundreds of WA State workers rallied around the capitol protesting budget cuts and furloughs, chanting, “Tax the rich!” 

State workers are not the only people confused as to what will happen next. “I would like direction from the governor on where we can find additional reductions,” said Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair June Robinson, D-Everett, the architect of the Senate’s spending plan. This was in response to the nine page letter that Ferguson’s Budget Director released on Tuesday, reiterating his call for maintaining strong reserves, restraining new spending and squeezing savings from state-funded programs before considering new revenue. 

Lastly, on Tuesday, Washington’s State Supt. Chris Reykdal released a statement addressing the U.S. Department of Education’s letter requesting states to certify compliance with the Department’s interpretation of federal civil rights guidelines, or risk losing federal funding. You can read his statement here, or for further info, read The Seattle Times; WA Schools Superintendent Resists Trump’s DEI Order.

House Bills 

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee. 

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to the delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

Senate Bills

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians, and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SB 5737: which reduces the annual bonuses for instructional staff with a National Board Certificate starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESB 5769: which would limit the annual average full-time equivalent eligible children enrolled in the Transition to Kindergarten Program. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

Odds and Ends

Banning cell phones in school, is that the answer? From The Seattle Times’ Education Lab; With Phones Banned, WA School District Keeps Busy with Real Life

Alabama High Schools and the “workforce diploma.” From The Olympian, A New Kind of High School Diploma Trades Chemistry for Carpentry.

Legislative Update for the week of April 4

Happy Friday! We have made it to the last few weeks of the 2025 Legislative Session, and things feel as busy as ever. Wednesday, April 2, was the policy committee cut-off in the opposite chamber. However, this felt a bit anticlimactic with all the focus really on budgets with the reality of our state’s current fiscal situation. Last Monday, both the House and the Senate released their respective operating budget proposals, and after nearly a full day of fiscal committee hearings, both houses voted and passed their budget bills out of fiscal. 

That being said, on Tuesday, April 1, Governor Ferguson responded to Democrats and their proposed budgets with rejection. Ferguson called on lawmakers, “to immediately move budget discussions in a different direction.” Ferguson has remained skeptical on the use of a “wealth tax,” as a sustainable option and would likely attract legal challenge if implemented. “It would be irresponsible to rely on an untested new tax to balance our budget, particularly given the situation we face with the federal government,” Ferguson told reporters April 1.

Don’t forget that each chamber has already approved competing versions of the budget, but both chambers must come to a shared agreement and then must send it to the governor for final approval. Meaning, if lawmakers hope to avoid a “special session,” before the end of this year’s 105-day legislative session, lawmakers will need to negotiate and agree upon a budget, which then must be signed by the Governor into law. Ferguson highlighted that point; “if the legislature wishes to complete our work on time, they need to immediately move the budget discussions in a significantly different direction.” The fiscal committee cutoff for the opposite house is on April 8th. Bills that are not voted on and passed out of the House Appropriations and the Senate Ways & Means Committees will not move forward.

Fiscal Committee Schedules for Next Week on TVW.org

House Appropriations Committee:

  • Saturday, April 5th @ 9am

Senate Ways & Means Committee: 

  • Saturday, April 5th @ 12pm

House Bills

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

HB 2012: which provides appropriation to fund the additional school year 2024-25 forecasted enrollment of the Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) program and limits TTK program enrollment for each school district to its 2024-25 school year enrollment. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to the delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Senate Bills

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5123: which would add protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians, and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESSB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5737: which reduces the annual bonuses for instructional staff with a National Board Certificate starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.ESB 5769: which would limit the annual average full-time equivalent eligible children enrolled in the Transition to Kindergarten Program. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

Odds and Ends

Because I love coaching youth sports – AND I love basketball, from The Spokesman, “It’s a Big Family:’ Professional Basketball Stars Show Spokane Youths the Ropes Prior to NCAA March Madness Games.

Let’s hear it for these Edmonds students! The Newsfeed: Edmonds Student Robotics Team is Top 10 in the World.

Legislative Update for the week of March 28

Happy Friday! Legislators were busy this week holding policy committee meetings in order to hear the last of the bills from the opposite house and exec’ing them out in time for the next session cut-off. For the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, Thursday was their last committee meeting of the session. Next Wednesday, April 2, is the last day for lawmakers to pass bills out of committee from the opposite house. 

Work sessions were another focus this week for both the house and senate education policy committees. The house held a work session focusing on digitizing high school transcripts, while the senate’s work session centered around potential local impacts of changing federal laws.

There’s no question, however, what is on the minds of all lawmakers in Olympia, and that is the budget woes. On Monday, Democrats in Washington, “pitched their competing budget plans.” Senate and House Dems plot a different budget course, but both plans count on huge sums from new taxes over the next four years: $17 billion in the Senate, $15 billion in the House.” As of now, negotiations begin and lawmakers resign themselves to long days, hammering out an agreed upon consensus that once voted upon by their fellow legislators, will become the biennial budget. Votes on the budgets are expected in the Senate on Saturday and in the House next Monday. The last day of the session, or “Sine Die,” is Sunday, April 27, and that is a fixed ending point set by our state constitution. In order to avoid a “special session,” legislators must finish up all their work by 11:59pm on Sine Die.

Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 31 @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, April 1 @ 4pm

House Bills 

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill was passed out of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee and sent to the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees (Senate hearing time: 1:54). Testifying in support:representatives from Gender Diversity, WEA Chinook Council, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, SWEC, WSCA, Pro-Choice WA, Gender Justice League, The Washington Bus, Sexual Violence Law Center, WEA, OSPI,  and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Eatonville SD, Reject 5599, Informed Choice WA, a Yakima County Commissioner and several concerned citizens. The bill was passed out of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee and sent to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events (Senate hearing time: 00:37). The bill was passed out of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee and sent to the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs (Senate hearing time: 26:29 and 1:18:58). Testifying in support: representatives from MIC, Tritech Skill Center, Northwest Maritime, WSSCA and a concerned citizen. The bill was passed out of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee and sent to the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs (Senate Hearing time: 2:44and 35:11). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA. Testifying as “other:” representatives from PESB. The bill was passed out of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee and sent to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Senate Bills

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements (House hearing time: 5:04). Testifying in support: representatives from Make Our Schools Safe and several concerned citizens. Testifying with amendment suggestion: representatives from the Puget Sound School Coalition. The bill was passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment (House hearing time: 00:29). Testifying in support: representatives from the PESB and CDHY. The bill was passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5123: which would add  protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence (House hearing time: 1:42). Testifying in support: representatives from WSASP, PFLAG Skagit, several concerned citizens,  Testifying in opposition: representatives from WSYR, Lynden School District, FPIW Action, and several concerned citizens. The bill was passed out of the House Education Committee.

SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (House hearing time: 39:02). Testifying in support:representatives from LYAC and the Attorney General’s Office.  Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

2SSB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline (House hearing time: 6:52and 22:31). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI and The Arc of King Co. Testifying in opposition: representatives from Reject 5599 PAC, Lynden School Board, the Supt. of the Chewelah SD and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action (House hearing time: 9:33and 55:26). Testifying in support: representatives from Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, WEA, Sexual Violence Law Center, WSASP and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from Informed Choice WA and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process (House hearing: 1:38:05). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBCTC, SBE, Issaquah SD (Gibson Ek HS) and the LaConner SD. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027 (House hearing time: 44:58). Testifying in support: representatives from K12 Stride, WA Digital Public School Alliance and a concerned citizen. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5240: which allows a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met as well as provides liability protections when epinephrine is administered in substantial compliance with the written policies of the school district. Testifying as “other:” representatives from SNOW and WFIS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 (House hearing time: 00:54).Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI,The Arc of WA and a concerned citizen. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards, and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements. (House hearing time: 1:15:02). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBE. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school, and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5418: which designates that charter schools must provide a program of basic education unless an exemption has been authorized pursuant to a charter contract. As well as provides that charter contracts may allow charter schools to seek exemptions to basic education requirements and directs a charter school authorizer to consult with the State Board of Education. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula (House hearing: 1:17:26). Testifying in support: the Asst. Supt. of the Office of Native Education, representatives from the Highline PS, Bellingham SD and the WSNAEC. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen and a teacher from Ferndale HS. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student (House hearing time: 5:03and 1:39:32). Testifying support: representatives from the WLA, LYAC and several high school students. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5737: which reduces the annual bonuses for instructional staff with a National Board Certificate starting in the 2025-26 school year (hearing time: 1:57:32). Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Evergreen, Mount Baker, Walla Walla, Lake Washington SD and Vancouver School Districts, the WEA, WSSDA, Highline Education Association, WSCA and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Odds and Ends

What happens when AI writes for us? From KQED’s MindShift: With AI Changing Everything, Here’s How Teachers Can Shape the New Culture of Learning.

“They are more mature, very compassionate to other global situations, kind to others, and understanding the difference between the two countries and other countries.” From The Seattle Times, The 50-year Tie that Bonds Students in Seattle and Japan.

Legislative Update for the week of March 21

This week lawmakers switched back into committee mode, holding public hearings on bills sent over from the opposite house. The House Education Committee hit the ground running, holding meetings beginning on Monday. Legislators will be expected to submit proposed amendments by next week, as time until the next cut-off is steadily ticking. April 2nd is the last day for bills to be amended and passed out of the opposite house.

On Tuesday, the highly anticipated March Revenue Forecast was released. Lawmakers have been waiting on the new set of state revenue estimates as they put their budget proposals together. Unfortunately, the figures that arrived were bleak. According to the Washington State Standard, the forecast, “further dimmed the financial outlook at a time when the state is already facing an operating budget shortfall estimated to be as much as $15 billion over the next four years.” This is not good news for legislators. As lawmakers prepare to negotiate a 2025-27 biennium budget, they will surely be debating whether to introduce new taxes or to deeply reduce spending to existing programs, or possibly both. 

Washington is expected to collect nearly $845 million less in revenue over the next four years than projected in November’s forecast, according to the Office of Financial Management. “Today’s revenue forecast shows a modest decline in projected revenue, which is what we expected,” state Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement. “While it doesn’t change the broader fiscal challenges we face, it reinforces the need for a balanced and sustainable approach as we finalize the 2025-27 operating budget.” 

On Thursday, Senate Democrats unveiled their tax package. The proposals, “if enacted, could cover roughly half of a budget shortfall estimated between $12 billion and $16 billion over the next four-and-a-half fiscal years,” reported Jerry Cornfield of The Washington State Standard. Cornfield breaks down the details of the plan in his article.

Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 24 @ 1:30pm
  • Wednesday, March 26 @ 4pm
  • Thursday, March 27 @ 8am

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Tuesday, March 25 @ 8am
  • Wednesday, March 26 @ 10:30am
  • Thursday, March 27 @ 10:30am

House Bills 

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. The bill is in the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.

2HB 1285: which requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to provide all high school students with instruction in the state financial education learning standards, beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees (Senate hearing time: 1:54). Testifying in support:representatives from Gender Diversity, WEA Chinook Council, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, SWEC, WSCA, Pro-Choice WA, Gender Justice League, The Washington Bus, Sexual Violence Law Center, WEA, OSPI,  and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Eatonville SD, Reject 5599, Informed Choice WA, a Yakima County Commissioner and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee. From The Seattle Times: Washington Initiative Takes Aim at Parents’ Bill of Rights Changes.

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events (Senate hearing time: 00:37). The bill was passed out of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee and sent to the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs (Senate hearing time: 26:29 and 1:18:58). Testifying in support: representatives from MIC, Tritech Skill Center, Northwest Maritime, WSSCA and a concerned citizen. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs (Senate Hearing time: 2:44and 35:11). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA. Testifying as “other:” representatives from PESB. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. 

Senate Bills

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements (House hearing time: 5:04). Testifying in support: representatives from Make Our Schools Safe and several concerned citizens. Testifying with amendment suggestion: representatives from the Puget Sound School Coalition. The bill was passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment (House hearing time: 00:29). Testifying in support: representatives from the PESB and CDHY. The bill was passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5123: which would add  protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence (House hearing time: 1:42). Testifying in support: representatives from WSASP, PFLAG Skagit, several concerned citizens,  Testifying in opposition: representatives from WSYR, Lynden School District, FPIW Action, and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (House hearing time: 39:02). Testifying in support:representatives from LYAC and the Attorney General’s Office.  Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

2SSB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill is in the House Education Committee. From

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process (House hearing: 1:38:05). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBCTC, SBE, Issaquah SD (Gibson Ek HS) and the LaConner SD. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027 (House hearing time: 44:58). Testifying in support: representatives from K12 Stride, WA Digital Public School Alliance and a concerned citizen. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5240: which allows a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met as well as provides liability protections when epinephrine is administered in substantial compliance with the written policies of the school district. Testifying as “other:” representatives from SNOW and WFIS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 (House hearing time: 00:54).Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI,The Arc of WA and a concerned citizen. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards, and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements. (House hearing time: 1:15:02). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBE. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school, and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5418: which designates that charter schools must provide a program of basic education unless an exemption has been authorized pursuant to a charter contract. As well as provides that charter contracts may allow charter schools to seek exemptions to basic education requirements and directs a charter school authorizer to consult with the State Board of Education. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula (House hearing: 1:17:26). Testifying in support: the Asst. Supt. of the Office of Native Education, representatives from the Highline PS, Bellingham SD and the WSNAEC. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen and a teacher from Ferndale HS. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5737: which reduces the annual bonuses for instructional staff with a National Board Certificate starting in the 2025-26 school year (hearing time: 1:57:32). Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Evergreen, Mount Baker, Walla Walla, Lake Washington SD and Vancouver School Districts, the WEA, WSSDA, Highline Education Association, WSCA and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Odds and Ends

“Offering the classes for free is a game changer for us.” From The Seattle Times, College in the Classroom Soars in Popularity Across the US and it’s Free.

“Alabama is the only state where 4th-grade math scores are higher now than they were in 2019, before the pandemic.” From NPR, How Alabama Students went from Last Place to Rising Stars in Math.

Legislative Update for the week of March 14

Happy Friday folks! Week 9 of the legislative session brought with it another cut-off for lawmakers; this time the deadline for Rules Committees to pass bills out of their house of origin and into the opposite house. As last week brought with it tireless hours on the chamber floors, this week we saw the resurgence of policy committee hearings for education committees, hearing testimony on bills from the opposite house. We can expect this committee work to continue until the first week of April and the next legislative cut off is scheduled to hit.

On Wednesday, as lawmakers took to the floor to push their legislation forward before the evening cut-off, the senate voted 48-0 to approve E2SSB 5263 which will provide  another $2 billion in the next four years for special education services in Washington States’ public school districts. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Peterson, D-Seattle and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, co-sponsored this bill, which identifies special education as a component of basic education that the state has a duty to fund. “It is going to be expensive for us, but the fact that it is expensive doesn’t change that on the ground we’ve got kids with special needs who are in our charge and are relying on us to make sure that they get the education to which they’re entitled,” Pederson said.

As lawmakers navigate the second half of this legislative session, the issue of passing a balanced operating budget will be a top priority. We should expect to see budget proposals being released over the next few weeks, as the March Revenue Forecast is expected to be released around March 20. Senate Republicans released their budget proposal on Tuesday.

Lastly, just a quick note that State Superintendent, Chris Reykdol, gave a press conference Thursday afternoon addressing recent federal executive actions and how they impact state law as well as fielding questions.

Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 17 @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, March 18 @ 4pm
  • Thursday, March 20 @ 8am

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Tuesday, March 18 @ 8am
  • Wednesday, March 19 @ 1:30pm
  • Thursday, March 20 @ 1:30pm

House Bills 

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

2SHB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. The bill is in the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.

2HB 1285: which requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to provide all high school students with instruction in the state financial education learning standards, beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

ESHB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events (Senate hearing time: 00:37). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

ESHB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs. The bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee.

ESHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

Senate Bills

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements (House hearing time: 5:04). Testifying in support: representatives from Make Our Schools Safe and several concerned citizens. Testifying with amendment suggestion: representatives from the Puget Sound School Coalition. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment (House hearing time: 00:29). Testifying in support: representatives from the PESB and CDHY. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5123: which would add  protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

2SSB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill is in the House Education Committee. From

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process (House hearing: 1:38:05). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBCTC, SBE, Issaquah SD (Gibson Ek HS) and the LaConner SD. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5240: which allows a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met as well as provides liability protections when epinephrine is administered in substantial compliance with the written policies of the school district. Testifying as “other:” representatives from SNOW and WFIS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill has passed out of the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards, and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

2SSB 5358: which permits school districts to offer Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses to sixth graders in middle school, and requires middle and high school CTE courses to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5418: which designates that charter schools must provide a program of basic education unless an exemption has been authorized pursuant to a charter contract. As well as provides that charter contracts may allow charter schools to seek exemptions to basic education requirements and directs a charter school authorizer to consult with the State Board of Education. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula (House hearing: 1:17:26). Testifying in support: the Asst. Supt. of the Office of Native Education, representatives from the Highline PS, Bellingham SD and the WSNAEC. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen and a teacher from Ferndale HS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student. The bill has passed out of the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5737: which reduces the annual bonuses for instructional staff with a National Board Certificate starting in the 2025-26 school year (hearing time: 1:57:32). Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Evergreen, Mount Baker, Walla Walla, Lake Washington SD and Vancouver School Districts, the WEA, WSSDA, Highline Education Association, WSCA and several concerned citizens, From The Seattle Times, Thousands of Highly Paid WA Teachers Could Have Their Pay Cut. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Odds and Ends

“The goal is to keep children safe, but these tools raise serious questions about privacy and security.” From The Seattle Times, Student Privacy vs. Safety: The AI Surveillance Dilemma in WA Schools.

So, just how much federal-education funding does Washington state stand to lose?

From The Olympian, Amid Federal Education Cuts, What’s at Stake for WA Public Schools?

Legislative Update for the week of March 7

After last week’s exhausting end, week 8 of session struck a different tone. With only the House Education Committee meeting on Wednesday to hear two bills from the senate, nearly all of the attention was on the floor and on the respective Rules Committees of both chambers. It is the job of the Rules Committees to consider all bills reported from policy and fiscal committees and determine whether, and in what order, to schedule their consideration on the floor of the chamber. The Rules Committee also reviews, adopts and schedules consideration of floor resolutions. 

Last week, on the very last day of the fiscal deadline, many anxiously awaited the fate of several major bills. At the last minute, the House Appropriations Committee amended and passed SSB 1357, which will increase special education funding and support grant funding for pilot schools centered on inclusionary practices, as well as increase the special education excess cost multiplier for kindergarten through age 21.

 That being said, there were several major bills that did not share that outcome. HB 1404, which would have provided Washington public school students with free school meals, and HB 1795, which focused on the use of isolation and restraint in our public schools, both died in fiscal. The next deadline lawmakers will face occurs next Wednesday, March 12, and will be the last day for bills to be considered and passed out of their house of origin.

Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

  • Thursday, March 13 @ 1030am

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Thursday, March 13 @ 1030am

House Bills 

SHB 1079: which allows school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill has passed the House Rules Committee.

SHB 1085: which expands the school-related crimes of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence and increases the penalties. The bill requires the OSPI to develop a standard signage form notifying the public of the offenses of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence and possible penalties and requires signage to be displayed at public school gymnasiums, auditoriums, and athletic fields. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

2HB 1285: which requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to provide all high school students with instruction in the state financial education learning standards, beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year. The bill has passed the House Rules Committee. From The Seattle Times, WA Could Reform High School Graduation Requirements.

SHB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1338: which increases per pupil amounts for several materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) categories in state prototypical school funding formulas, lowers class sizes for skill centers from 19 to 16.67 and requires a review and rebase of MSOC every four years beginning the 2029-30 school year. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1357:  which increases special education excess cost multipliers for kindergarten through age 21 to 1.18 for students who spend at least 80 percent of the school day in a general education setting, and 1.09 for those who spend less than 80 percent. The bill also establishes grants for pilot schools to establish school-wide centers of excellence for inclusionary practices. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1817:  directs OSPI to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault and to develop a student and family guide on laws, policies, and procedures related to this topic and mandatory reporting as well as requires mandatory reporter training for school employees. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

Senate Bills

ESSB 5004: which requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements (House hearing time: 5:04). Testifying in support: representatives from Make Our Schools Safe and several concerned citizens. Testifying with amendment suggestion: representatives from the Puget Sound School Coalition. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to establish full and limited certificates for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and specifies that, by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, educational interpreters employed by school districts must obtain a certificate; and provides that those without a certificate, but who demonstrate satisfactory efforts toward full certification, may provide educational interpreter services for up to 18 months after completing the assessment (House hearing time: 00:29). Testifying in support: representatives from the PESB and CDHY. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5123: which would add protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school, removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment, lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians and includes cross references to existing state law for each. The bill adds that these rights do not create a private right of action. The bill is in the House Education Committee. From The Seattle Times, New Initiative Aims to Shield WA Parents’ Bill of Rights from Revision.

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5240: which allows a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met as well as provides liability protections when epinephrine is administered in substantial compliance with the written policies of the school district. Testifying as “other:” representatives from SNOW and WFIS. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5272: which expands the school-related crimes of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence and increases the penalties for Interference by Force or Violence. The bill also requires standard signage notifying the public of these offenses and possible penalties to be displayed at public school gymnasiums, auditoriums, and public school athletic fields. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5358: which provides prototypical school funding for 6th grade Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses offered in a middle school. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5369: which amends the statutory definition of school social worker and grants authority for ESDs to coordinate with local mental health agencies to arrange for in-school placements of licensed social worker associates and Master of Social Work candidates. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5386: which directs YLAC ​​to lead a discussion about the requirements for mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect and directs OSPI to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, including best practices for working with local community experts, and to develop a student and family guide on laws/policies related to this topic by November 1, 2026. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5418: which designates that charter schools must provide a program of basic education unless an exemption has been authorized pursuant to a charter contract. As well as provides that charter contracts may allow charter schools to seek exemptions to basic education requirements and directs a charter school authorizer to consult with the State Board of Education. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5596: which states that every  person employed by a school district in a teaching or other nonsupervisory certificated position shall be subject to nonrenewal of employment contract during the first three years of employment by such district, unless, the employee has previously completed at least two years of certificated employment in another school district in the state of Washington. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5769: which renames “Transitional Kindergarten,” to “Transition to Kindergarten,” classes, as well as requests OSPI to administer the TTK Program and determine allocation of state funding for, and minimum standards and requirements for the TTK Program. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

Odds and Ends

“Can is a mix of knowledge and self-efficacy, that has been nurtured through experience.” From teachthought.com, Establishing a Culture of Can in Your Classroom.

In the world of higher-ed, Students Press WA Lawmakers for Campus Sexual Assault Policy Reform. 

Legislative Update for the Week of February 28

As we say goodbye to February and come to an epic close of week 7 of session, it is hard to wrap one’s brain around how many bills met their end in today’s fiscal cut-off. Since last Saturday, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways & Means Committee have been meeting daily for marathon stretches; hearing and exec’ing hundreds of bills. Bills that were not scheduled for executive session by 5pm today will not move forward. 

There’s hardly any doubt that the large budget deficit played a role in the decision making process of the fiscal committees, as it did in policy committees. On Monday, House Democrats launched a new website entitled, “WA Budget Cuts.” This first blog highlighted the, “all cuts, no revenue budget,” former Governor Jay Inslee was required to prepare, called the “Book 1” Budget. “These cuts would be devastating for our higher education system, our funding for human services, our funding for many, many health care services, for public health services, and for long term care,” said Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma).  Weekly updates are expected to be posted weekly.

On Thursday, Governor Bob Ferguson proposed a plan to cut another approximately $4 billion. “Our state faces a historic budget shortfall,” Ferguson said. “This challenge demands thoughtful leadership and a commitment to fiscal responsibility. My team and I have scoured state spending for savings and efficiencies. We must prioritize while protecting the core needs of Washingtonians.” Important to note, that his proposal plans to maintain all K-12 education investments, and adopt all of Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed investments, a total of more than $15 billion annually. Ferguson’s proposal increases the percentage of the budget devoted to K-12 however seems to maintain the  suspension of the bonuses for National Board Certified Teachers. 

What’s next? Policy Committees will begin to hear legislation that has been sent to them from the opposite house. Lawmakers will have their chance to propose and pass amendments on these bills before they are sent to the floor for debate. The next cut-off date will be the “House of Origin,” cut-off on Wednesday, March 12. This will be the last day for bills still sitting in respective Rules Committees to be passed on to the opposite house.

Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 5 @ 8am

House Bills 

HB 1079: which would allow school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2026-27 school year (hearing time: 1:49:59). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 1085: which expands the school-related crimes of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence, and increases the penalties. The bill requires the OSPI to develop a standard signage form notifying the public of the offenses of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence and possible penalties, and requires signage to be displayed at public school gymnasiums, auditoriums, and athletic fields (Appropriations hearing time: 00:31). The bill has passed out of committee.

HB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system (Appropriations hearing time: 2:28:46). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee and scheduled for executive session on Friday, February 28 at 9am.

HB 1285: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools and requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate (Appropriations hearing time: 3:39:45).  The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee and scheduled for executive session on Friday, February 28, at 9am.

SHB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees (hearing time: 1:12:20). Testifying in support: representatives from the SCPTSA, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from Eatonville School Board and Reject 5599. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1338: which increases per pupil amounts for several materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) categories in state prototypical school funding formulas, lowers class sizes for skill centers from 19 to 16.67 and requires a review and rebase of MSOC every four years beginning the 2029-30 school year. The bill was passed out of committee.

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events (hearing time: 1:07).  The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs (hearing time: 1:55). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs (Appropriations hearing time: 2:43:51). The bill has passed out of committee.

HB 1817:  directs OSPI to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault and to develop a student and family guide on laws, policies, and procedures related to this topic and mandatory reporting as well as requires mandatory reporter training for school employees (hearing time: 24:02). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5004: which would update emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons (hearing time: 16:58 and 28.50). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5025: which directs the PESB to adopt separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and creates a two-tiered certificate system for educational interpreters (hearing time: 00:33 and 1:24:44). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5123: which would add  protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence (Ways & Means hearing time: 1:09:51). The bill was passed out of committee.

SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (hearing time: 1:03:44). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline (hearing time: 1:32:51). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and scheduled for executive session on Friday, February 28 at 1:30pm.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school and removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment (hearing time: 2:29). The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process (hearing time: 1:11:45). The bill was passed out of committee.

SB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation (Ways & Means hearing time: 11:15). The bill was passed out of committee.

SB 5193:  which allows school districts with online programs to provide students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The bill directs OSPI to develop assessment administration and security policies to support remote testing options by April 1, 2027 (hearing time: 51:16). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5240: which allows a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met as well as provides liability protections when epinephrine is administered in substantial compliance with the written policies of the school district  (hearing time: 1:00:00). Testifying as “other:” representatives from SNOW and WFIS. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 (hearing time: 32:03). The bill was passed out of committee.

SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting (Ways & Means hearing time: 42:54). The bill was passed out of committee.

SB 5272: which expands the school-related crimes of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence, and increases the penalties for Interference by Force or Violence. The bill also requires standard signage notifying the public of these offenses and possible penalties to be displayed at public school gymnasiums, auditoriums, and public school athletic fields (hearing time: 5:16). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards, and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements (Ways & Means hearing time: 1:14:39). The bill was passed out of committee.

SB 5358: which provides prototypical school funding for 6th grade Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses offered in a middle school (hearing time: 00:28). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and scheduled for executive session on Friday, February 28 at 1:30pm.

SB 5369: which amends the statutory definition of school social worker and grants authority for ESDs to coordinate with local mental health agencies to arrange for in-school placements of licensed social worker associates and masters of social work candidates (hearing time: 1:35 and 1:07:45). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5386: which directs YLAC ​​to lead a discussion about the requirements for mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect and directs OSPI to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, including best practices for working with local community experts, and to develop a student and family guide on laws/policies related to this topic by November 1, 2026 (hearing time: 8:21). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5418: which allows charter school contracts to include exemptions to one or more of the basic education requirements (hearing time: 53:41). Testifying in support: a concerned citizen, and representatives from the WA State Charter School Commission. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula (Ways & Means hearing time: 1:21:20). The bill was passed out of committee.

SB 5596: which states that every  person employed by a school district in a teaching or other nonsupervisory certificated position shall be subject to nonrenewal of employment contract during the first three years of employment by such district, unless, the employee has previously completed at least two years of certificated employment in another school district in the state of Washington (hearing time: 55:24). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student hearing time: 1:28). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5769: which renames “Transitional Kindergarten,” to “Transition to Kindergarten,” classes, as well as requests OSPI to administer the TTK Program and determine allocation of state funding for, and minimum standards and requirements for the TTK Program. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and scheduled for executive session on Friday, February 28 at 1:30pm.

Odds and Ends

Banking between classes? Students at one Washington High School are doing it. From the Spokesman Review; Student-Run Gesa Credit Union Branch Opens at Ridgeline High School, ‘We’re Teaching Them How to be Independent.’

Standing Up for Black History Month. This week from KQED’s MindShift, Rollback of Diversity Efforts Leaves Teachers Wondering about Effects on Black History Month.

Legislative Update for the week of February 21

Week 6 is ending with the first cut-off of the 2025 Legislative Session. Policy committees are charged with the task of passing out as many bills as possibly via executive session by 5pm today, February 21. Bills that are not scheduled to be “exec’d,” by that time are considered, “dead,” and do not move forward. 

However, advocates of bills that fail to make it out of committee should remain hopeful. There is always the possibility that some form of that bill will be resurrected during the next legislative session, something we have seen many times before. There is also the chance of lawmakers who have shared similar bills to work together and collaborate on the bills that do make it through, or use the amendment process to try and reach the goals of their original legislation. This session, in particular, has seen a number of similar bills that are aiming to address virtually the same issue. Special education funding is an example of this, so is the issue of using isolation in schools. 

The next cut-off that lawmakers will find rapidly approaching is the fiscal one. The House Appropriations and the Senate Ways & Means Committees will have until February 28 to read reports and pass bills out of committee and to the opposite house of origin.

Fiscal Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Appropriations Committee:

  • Monday, February 24 @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, February 25 @ 1:30pm
  • Wednesday, February 26 @ 1:30pm 
  • Thursday, February 27 @ 9am
  • Friday, February 28 @ 9am

Senate Ways & Means Committee:

  • Monday, February 24 @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, February 25 @ 1:30pm
  • Wednesday, February 26 @ 1:30pm 
  • Thursday, February 27 @ 1:30pm
  • Friday, February 28 @ 1:30pm

House Bills 

HB 1079: which would allow school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2026-27 school year (hearing time: 1:49:59). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1257: which requires that special education and related services for students with disabilities be provided to the end of the school year in which a student turns age 22, or high school graduation, whichever occurs first (hearing time: 31:19). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, CISWA and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system (hearing time: 7:50). Testifying in support: representatives from UW Bothell, WA STEM, Career Connect NW and ESD 112. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WACTE and the SBCTC. The bill was passed out of committee.

HB 1285: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools and requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate (hearing time: 2:35).  The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees (hearing time: 1:12:20). Testifying in support: representatives from the SCPTSA, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from Eatonville School Board and Reject 5599. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events (hearing time: 1:07).  The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1404: which would require public schools, beginning with the 2026-27 school year, to provide free breakfast and lunch each school day to any requesting students, and at no charge to the students. The bill extends eligibility provisions for LAP and National Board Certification funding for school districts, subject to the meal provision requirements through the 2029-30 school year. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs (hearing time: 1:55). The bill was passed out of committee.

HB 1475: which would suspend the national board for professional standards certification bonuses for certificated instructional staff. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1450: which directs OSPI to administer TTK programs in coordination with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to authorize programs, approve sites, and set enrollment caps. The bill also limits early entry to kindergarten to children who are likely to be successful in kindergarten as well as aligns TTK and ECEAP standards  (hearing time: 54:33). The bill was passed out of committee.

HB 1634: which would establish a network of statewide and regional partners to provide school districts with the technical assistance, resources, and training necessary to coordinate comprehensive student supports relating to behavioral health (hearing time: 2:20). The bill was passed out of committee.

HB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs (hearing time: 1:15:51). The bill was passed out of committee.

HB 1795: which would place restrictions on the restraint and isolation techniques used on students, and specifically would ban chemical and mechanical restraint. As well as modifies notification requirements and would provide staff training requirements (hearing time: 1:20:18). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1817:  directs OSPI to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault and to develop a student and family guide on laws, policies, and procedures related to this topic and mandatory reporting as we as requires mandatory reporter training for school employees (hearing time: 24:02). The bill was passed out of committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5004: which would update emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons (hearing time: 16:58 and 28.50). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5007:  which requires each ESD to develop and offer training for staff to address excessive absenteeism and truancy. The bill adds supporting students who are chronically absent to the Building Bridges Program through grants to community-based organizations. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5025: which directs the PESB to adopt separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters and creates a two-tiered certificate system for educational interpreters (hearing time: 00:33 and 1:24:44). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5123: which would add  protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence (hearing time: 1:07:49). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (hearing time: 1:03:44). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline (hearing time: 1:32:51). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school and removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment (hearing time: 2:29). The bill is in the House Education Committee. From the Washington State Standard, What is WA’s Parental ‘Bill of Rights’? And How are Democrats Seeking to Change It?

SB 5189: which requires OSPI to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards, as well as requires the SBE to develop a process to identify schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process (hearing time: 1:11:45). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5192: which increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation (Ways & Means hearing time: 11:15). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5193:  which supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs (hearing time: 51:16).  Testifying in support: representatives from Stride K/12, Digital Public Schools Alliance, OSPI, Insight WA, River Homelink, and a concerned citizen. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5210: which would establish the ninth-grade success grant program (hearing time: 00:38 and 34:53). Testifying in support: representatives from the Center for High School Success, Tacoma Public Schools, Stand for Children, University of Washington, Prosser High School and Graham Kapowsin High School. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5240: which allows a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met as well as provides liability protections when epinephrine is administered in substantial compliance with the written policies of the school district  (hearing time: 1:00:00). Testifying as “other:” representatives from SNOW and WFIS. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5253: which extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 (hearing time: 32:03).Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, CISWA, WSASP, Sherwood Community Services and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

SSB 5263: which would increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting (Ways & Means hearing time: 42:54). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5272: which expands the school-related crimes of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence, and increases the penalties for Interference by Force or Violence. The bill also requires standard signage notifying the public of these offenses and possible penalties to be displayed at public school gymnasiums, auditoriums, and public school athletic fields (hearing time: 5:16). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5327: which directs the SBE to develop recommendations for students to have the opportunity to demonstrate competency of the high school computer science state learning standards, and consider how to incorporate the competencies into the framework of graduation requirements (hearing time: 56:17).  The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5358: which provides prototypical school funding for 6th grade Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) courses offered in a middle school (hearing time: 00:28). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5369: which amends the statutory definition of school social worker and grants authority for ESDs to coordinate with local mental health agencies to arrange for in-school placements of licensed social worker associates and masters of social work candidates (hearing time: 1:35 and 1:07:45). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5386: which directs YLAC ​​to lead a discussion about the requirements for mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect and directs OSPI to to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, including best practices for working with local community experts, and to develop a student and family guide on laws/policies related to this topic by November 1, 2026 (hearing time: 8:21). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5418: which allows charter school contracts to include exemptions to one or more of the basic education requirements (hearing time: 53:41). Testifying in support: a concerned citizen, and representatives from the WA State Charter School Commission. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5570: which requires school districts to incorporate curricula about the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula no later than September 1, 2026, and requires districts to collaborate with neighboring tribes on coordinating curricula (hearing time: 1:35). Testifying in support: the Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe, representatives from the WSNAEAC, several concerned citizens, Marysville SD, Ferndale SD and Children of the Setting Sun Productions. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5596: which states that every  person employed by a school district in a teaching or other nonsupervisory certificated position shall be subject to nonrenewal of employment contract during the first three years of employment by such district, unless, the employee has previously completed at least two years of certificated employment in another school district in the state of Washington (hearing time: 55:24). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student hearing time: 1:28). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5737:  which would ​​suspend the national board for professional standards certification bonuses for certificated instructional staff. The bill is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Odds and Ends

From KUOW, Are Seattle Schools Failing Highly Capable Students? Parents Raise Concerns.

A little look at my hometown and chess success on the Olympic Peninsula. From The Port Townsend Leader; Check Mate for Blue Heron in Regional Chess Match