Legislative Update: January 17, 2025

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The 2025 Legislative Session officially began on Monday, January 13. Lawmakers got right to it, and committees began holding work sessions as well as taking public testimony on a number of bills. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, headed by Senator Lisa Wellman, held two committee meetings right off the bat, hearing testimony on bills that centered on childcare and school emergency response systems. The House Education Committee, led by Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, did not hold public hearings this first week, however, they met three times for in-depth work sessions regarding K-12 agencies and the post-pandemic systems in education.

As one can see, there were a slew of bills released this week, and quite a few are timely in the world of K-12 education. One example is HB 1122, that would restrict cell phone use in public schools. There was a similar bill to this last session that didn’t make it to the governor’s desk. HB 1122 made news this week; The Seattle Times’ Education Lab went in-depth on the details of the bill and reported on solutions that districts in neighboring states are using to address the cell phone problem. HB 1122 would require school districts to adopt a policy restricting student cell phone use during instructional time by the start of the 2026-27 school year. 

Attorney General Bob Ferguson was sworn in as Washington State’s new governor on Wednesday and is already striking a different tone than former Governor Inslee. Ferguson announced a goal of $4 billion in budget cuts, along with $1.3 billion worth of new programs that he wants to see in the 2025-27 biennial budget. According to reports in Cascade PBS, “The $12 billion predicted shortfall is likely the Legislature’s biggest problem in the upcoming 105-day session.” Regarding K-12 funding, the Seattle Times reported that Ferguson was particularly critical of Inslee’s proposal, which spends about 42% on schools, a slice that has been criticized as backsliding by the state teacher’s union. “The final budget must invest a higher percentage of the total budget toward K-12 schools,” Ferguson stated. Among that proposed K-12 spending, Ferguson proposed $480 million to guarantee school lunches for every Washington student.

Education Committee Schedules for Next Week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, January 20 @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, January 21 @ 4pm
  • Thursday, January 23 @ 830am 

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Tuesday, January 21 @ 8am
  • Wednesday, January 22 @ 130pm
  • Thursday, January 23 @ 10:30am

House Bills

​​HB 1020: which would increase the accessibility of academic re-engagement opportunities for eligible students.

HB 1021: which works to promote educational stability for children of military families.

HB 1031: which aims to mitigate the impact of rising school facility temperatures resulting from climate change.

HB 1032: which concerns school district elections.

HB 1051: which would permit the recording of individualized education program team meetings.

HB 1079: which supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.

HB 1085 or SB 5272: which aims to improve school safety by extending penalties for interference by, or intimidation by threat of, force or violence at schools and extracurricular activities and requiring schools to notify the public of such penalties.

HB 1122: which would determine restrictions on mobile device usage by public school students. For more on this, from The Seattle Times, WA Bill Would Limit Cell Phone Use in Schools. 

HB 1134: which would promote resource conservation practices in public schools.

HB 1151: which would establish the ninth-grade success grant program.

HB 1189: ​​which addresses parental involvement through volunteering in schools after a criminal conviction.

HB 1241: which would improve access to and the provision of free appropriate public education for students with disabilities.

HB 1257: or SB 5253: which would extend special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.

HB 1259: which concerns supervision requirements for behavioral health professionals in elementary and secondary public schools.

HB 1285: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools.

HB 1289: would use a survey to gather information on how to improve the public school system.

HB 1295: which would use evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for public elementary students.

Senate Bills

SB 5003:  which would establish the school security and preparedness infrastructure grant program (hearing time: 11:59 and 21:21). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, the Conservative Ladies of WA, and a concerned citizen.

SB 5004: which would update emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons (hearing time: 16:58 and 28.50). Testifying in support: representatives from Make Our Girls Safe, Yakima SD, and the Conservative Ladies of WA

SB 5007: which would support students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.

SB 5008: which would support the use of assessment, diagnostic, and learning tools in public schools.

SB 5009: which modifies the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.

SB 5012: which concerns the organization of interscholastic athletics.

SB 5025: which concerns educational interpreters.

SB 5080: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement.

SB 5097: which relates to school boards and ensuring competitiveness in girls’ interscholastic athletic activities.

SB 5113: which concerns the cost-of-living adjustments for plan 1 retirees of the teachers’ retirement system and public employees’ retirement system.

SB 5123: which would expand protections for LGBTQ+ students to promote inclusivity in public schools.

SB 5126: which would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.

SB 5134: which would require public schools to commemorate the contributions of Chinese Americans and Americans of Chinese descent and requires school districts to incorporate instruction about the Chinese Exclusion Act (hearing time: 1:03:20). Testifying in support: Pierce County Council District 6 Rep. Jani Hitchen, several concerned citizens and a representative from the CRPF of Tacoma. Testifying as “other:” a representative from the Washington State Historical Society and the WEA.

SB 5135: which concerns school districts’ authority to establish their curriculum.

SB 5136: which aims to protect the rights of parents and guardians by using students’ given names in public schools.

SB 5137: which requires parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.

SB 5177: which would consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups when identifying professional development resources on certain topics.

SB 5180: which aims to secure the rights of students to have a safe, civil, and respectful learning community.

SB 5181: which would amend the parents’ rights initiative to align it with existing law.

SB 5187: which provides adequate and predictable student transportation.

SB 5189: which supports the implementation of competency-based education (hearing time: 1:11:45). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBE, Dishman Hills High School, LaConnor School District, SBCTC, Highline Public Schools and the WEA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA and several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI.

SB 5192: which concerns school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.

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.

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.

SB 5240: which would allow school districts to maintain a supply of epinephrine to address anaphylaxis in schools.

SB 5263: which would require OSPI to submit a programmed budget request for special education programs for students with disabilities every other year. 

SB 5270 and 1352: which would provide mentors to novice nurses in the beginning educator support team program. 

SB 5271: which would require school districts of the first class to employ a school nurse.

SJR 8200: which would amend the Constitution to allow 55 percent of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.

Odds and Ends

“How many gluten-free snickerdoodles, mocha chocolate chip cookies and whole wheat loaves would it take to raise $4 billion?” From The Seattle Times, WA Parents Launch a Billion Dollar Bake Sale for K-12 Funding.
Out of respect to those who are in the midst of the California wildfire devastation, this article from NPR touches on the issue of school closures and what students are experiencing during this difficult time.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Inclusion for All: Why General Education Teachers Can and Should Teach Special Education Students

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This post was written by Kim Broomer, 2025 Washington State Teacher of the Year. Kim is a kindergarten teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary in the Northshore School District. Kim is a dynamic educator committed to inclusive schools and creating a culture of belonging for each and every student she works with in her classroom and beyond.

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Every child deserves access to their neighborhood school, learning alongside their siblings, neighbors, and peers. Yet, in many cases, students with disabilities are denied this fundamental right. They are sent to schools outside their communities, under the rationale that their needs are “too complex” for general education teachers to handle. This misconception not only segregates students but also undermines the potential of educators to rise to the challenge of inclusion.

Sarah’s story is a poignant example of why this must change. Sarah was a bright and capable student with complex communication needs who was denied enrollment at her neighborhood school. While her brother and neighborhood friends rode to school together, she was sent to a school miles away. The reason? Her needs were deemed too intricate for her neighborhood school to accommodate. But when Sarah joined my classroom, it quickly became clear that her needs weren’t “too complex” at all, they were simply misunderstood.

Challenging the Myth of “Too Complex”

The notion that only special education teachers can meet the needs of students like Sarah is a myth rooted in outdated beliefs about disability and education. General education teachers are fully capable of teaching students with disabilities. Inclusive education isn’t about having all the answers upfront; it’s about a willingness to learn, adapt, and partner with specialists to meet the needs of every student.

Sarah’s presence in our classroom was a gift. She used an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to express herself, and her interests, humor, and insights quickly became a vibrant part of our community. With support from our special education team, we developed strategies that worked for her—integrating visuals into lessons, building in movement breaks, and using peer modeling. Far from being a burden, Sarah enriched our classroom, teaching us about patience, resilience, and the power of inclusion.

Schools Have a Responsibility to Their Communities

Every school has a responsibility to educate the students within its boundaries, regardless of ability. Denying students like Sarah access to their neighborhood schools sends a harmful message: that inclusion is optional and that some students belong elsewhere. This segregation not only isolates students with disabilities but also deprives their peers of the chance to learn from and with them.

Inclusion benefits everyone. Research shows that students in inclusive classrooms, both with and without disabilities, perform better academically and develop stronger social and emotional skills. Teachers in inclusive settings grow professionally, through learning new strategies that make them better educators for all students.

The Path Forward: Embracing Inclusion

Sarah’s success at school highlights what is possible when schools embrace inclusion. By working together, general and special education teachers, families, and administrators, we created an environment where she could thrive. Her story is a reminder that no student is “too complex” for their neighborhood school.

It’s time to dismantle the systems that segregate students and encourage collaboration that empowers general education teachers to meet diverse needs. Inclusion is not just a possibility, it is a necessity. When every child is welcomed, supported, and celebrated in their local school, we all grow stronger as a community.

Kim Broomer, NBCT

2025 Washington State Teacher of the Year

Kindergarten Teacher

Ruby Bridges Elementary

Legislative Preview: January 10, 2025

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We are back in action, here to kick off both the New Year and a new legislative session.  The Legislature will convene for the regular 2025 legislative session on Monday, January 13 and is scheduled to end on April 27. The Washington State Legislature’s regular sessions run 105 days in odd numbered years, and 60 days in even numbered years. Longer sessions provide lawmakers with ample time to write their state’s two year budget, as well as submit hundreds of bills to be considered by their peers.

Washington State is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives with 98 representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate with 49 senators. Currently, the Democratic Party holds a trifecta in the legislature, meaning the Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. For those who are interested in really getting into the nitty-gritty of the regular (long) session and understanding the process that bills go through before they are signed into law by our state’s governor, this article from the Washington State Standard, is a good resource.

Earlier in December, the outgoing Governor, Jay Inslee, released his proposed balanced budget for 2025-27. Inslee’s proposal highlights programs and services that include public safety, education, early learning, housing and behavioral health. His proposal provides K-12 education with an additional $1.3 billion for schools to support increased costs for maintenance, supplies, technology and educator compensation. 

Inslee’s proposed spending plan also includes some cuts and reductions. KUOW reported that, “His proposal would pause pay bonuses for teachers who receive their National Board Certification and eliminate or reduce some education grant funding that officials say is ‘underutilized’ — including a program for training paraeducators.” Governor Inslee is serving his last term in office and Governor-elect, Bob Ferguson, will begin his term as Washington State’s 23rd governor on January 15. In late September, Washington State’s Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, gave a press conference highlighting his goals for the upcoming legislative cycle, as well as submitted his K-12 Operating budget requests to the governor. Reykdal emphasized the need for increased funding in the areas of special education, student transportation and high poverty schools. “Budget writers must recognize that schools today are expected to do everything from feeding and educating students, to supporting, protecting, and nurturing their developmental, physical, and mental health,” Reykdal stated.

Pre-Filed Bills

HB 1021: which works to promote educational stability for children of military families.

HB 1031: which aims to mitigate the impact of rising school facility temperatures resulting from climate change.

HB 1032: which concerns school district elections.

HB 1051: which would permit the recording of individualized education program team meetings.

HB 1079: which supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.

HB 1085: which aims to improve school safety by extending penalties for interference by, or intimidation by threat of, force or violence at schools and extracurricular activities and requiring schools to notify the public of such penalties.

HB 1122: which would determine restrictions on mobile device usage by public school students.

HB 1134: which would promote resource conservation practices in public schools.

HB 1151: which would establish the ninth grade success grant program.

HB 1189: which aims to address parental involvement through volunteering in schools after a criminal conviction.

SB 5004: which would update emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons.

SB 5007: which would support students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.

SB 5008: which would support the use of assessment, diagnostic, and learning tools in public schools.

SB 5009: which modifies the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.

SB 5012: which concerns the organization of interscholastic athletics.

SB 5025: which concerns educational interpreters.

SB 5030:  which expands access to educational services by reducing barriers to obtaining vital records and allowing alternative forms of documentation.

SB 5080: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement.

SB 5097: which relates to school boards and ensuring the competitiveness in girls’ interscholastic athletic activities.

SB 5113: which concerns the cost-of-living adjustments for plan 1 retirees of the teachers’ retirement system and public employees’ retirement system.

SB 5123: which would expand protections for LGBTQ+ students to promote inclusivity in public schools.

SB 5126: which would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.

SB 5134: which would require public schools to commemorate the contributions of Chinese Americans and Americans of Chinese descent.

SB 5135: which concerns school districts’ authority to establish their curriculum.

SB 5136: which aims to protect the rights of parents and guardians by using students’ given names in public schools.SB 5137: which requires parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.

Odds and Ends

Is it time to appoint Washington States’ school chief? From the Washington State Standard, Ferguson and GOP Leaders See Value in Eliminating WA’s Elected Schools Chief. From the Seattle Times’ Education Lab, Washington Needs More Early Childhood Educators. But the Pay is the Problem.

From the Seattle Times’ Education Lab, Washington Needs More Early Childhood Educators. But the Pay is the Problem.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Final Weekly Legislative Update: March 15, 2024

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Here it is, your final update for the 2024 Legislative Session. Session officially came to a close last Thursday, March 7, and the last week of the legislative session is almost always a busy one on the hill. There are many moving pieces leading up to Sine Die, and it is quite common that last minute decisions are made simply because there is a pressure to get items wrapped up in time. However, this session did not bring with it the typical level of anxiety that we normally see during the last week as there were fewer outstanding issues that needed tending and most budget negotiations had been resolved prior to the last days of session. 

During the last week, lawmakers released their finalized negotiated budgets: capital, operating and transportation. The Supplemental Operating budget, ESSB 5950, was released last Wednesday and now sits on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. This supplemental budget makes slight adjustments to the 2023-25 biennial budget. The League of Education Voters website has a nice side-by-side visual of the final supplemental budget and the areas of education that were most impacted. 

As we say goodbye to this session in Olympia, education advocates can feel pleasantly surprised about many of the advancements and financial investments that were made in education policy. Some of which have been discussed by lawmakers for many years. Crosscut noted, “A boost in the school construction formula to add $103 per square foot for school-building, and support for a statewide pilot project to increase the amount of time students with disabilities spend in general-education classrooms,” are just a few of the accomplishments that legislators made in the area of K-12 Education.  

Bills Delivered to the Governor

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance in order to reduce dual credit and exam costs for students and their families. 

3SHB 1228: which creates grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as requires literacy supports in service of American Indian and Alaska Native students, and modifies requirements related to the seal of biliteracy and the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program. 

E4SHB 1239: which would direct the Office of the Education Ombuds to create a simple and uniform access point for the receipt of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, as well as require the PESB and the Paraeducator Board to report to the Legislature on a code of educator ethics. This bill would also modify the defense for use of force on children with respect to teachers and other school staff. 

ESHB 1277: which directs the Paraeducator Board to update rules and publish guidance related to the fundamental course of study, and requires school districts to provide paraeducators two days of the four-day fundamental course of study, in person and by specified deadlines, unless the school district is granted an exemption by the Paraeducator Board. 

ESHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also amends requirements related to school supplies of autoinjectors to include epinephrine. 

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš). 

E2SHB 1956: which directs the Department of Health to develop, implement, and maintain a statewide drug overdose prevention and awareness campaign to address the drug overdose epidemic through 2029, and tasks OSPI with developing and updating age-appropriate substance use prevention and awareness materials for school and classroom use. The bill also requires OSPI to adjust the state health and physical education learning standards for middle and high school students to add opioids to the list of drugs included in drug-related education. 

HB 2110: which makes revisions to high school graduation requirement provisions without modifying the requirements or related school district and state agency duties and authorizations. 

2SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2027-28 school year.

ESHB 2331: which requires school district Instructional Materials Committees (IMCs) to include at least one parent member, and directs the IMC to include recommendations for culturally and experientially representative instructional materials. The bill also prohibits school districts from refusing to approve or prohibit the use of any instructional (or supplemental) material on the basis that it relates to or includes the study or contributions of any individual or group who is part of a protected class unless the content contains discriminatory bias. 

ESB 5462: which directs OSPI and WSSDA to update a model policy to require school districts to adopt inclusive curricula and select diverse, equitable, inclusive, age-appropriate instructional materials that include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized, underrepresented groups, which would also include the perspectives, contributions and histories of LGBTQ people, by December 1, 2024.  

SSB 5804: which requires all school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools, to obtain and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication in each school and to adopt a related policy. The bill also makes grant programs available for purchasing opioid overdose reversal medication and training personnel to administer the medication. 

SB 5852: which modifies safety net award eligibility and award adjustment provisions and requires that a survey of small school districts be used to implement a simplified, standardized safety net application. 

2SSB 5882: which increases staff allocations for teaching assistants, office support staff, and non instructional aides in the prototypical school funding model. 

SB 5883: which establishes burden of proof requirements for special education due process hearings. 

Odds and Ends

One of the education bills that made it to the Governor’s desk this session was SB 5883, which will require school districts to prove that they provided adequate services to children. This bill remained controversial throughout the session. The Seattle Times’ reporter, Dahlia Bazzaz, digs deeper into this issue in WA Lawmakers Ease Burden for Parents Challenging School Special Ed. 

Back to the issue of “chronic absenteeism,” although WA State lawmakers were unable to succeed in legislation that tackled this issue, there are others out there doing the work! This week from NPR, Battling Student Absenteeism with Grandmas, Vans and Lots of Love.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Weekly Legislative Update: March 8, 2024

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Well that’s a wrap! Yesterday, March 7, was the last day of the 2024 Legislative Session, or “Sine Die.” It is always impressive how much work legislators are able to get done in the last few days. Many education bills made it to the governor’s desk this week, inching their way closer to being signed into law. If a bill reaches the Governor’s desk when there are more than five days left in session, he is required to sign it within those five days. If a bill is received with five days remaining, or less, the Governor has 20 days to take action, or not, on the bill. 

It is good to remember that the last few days of session are a flurry of activity, with the primary focus being budget negotiations, which mostly occur behind closed doors. Unsurprisingly, education spending is the biggest chunk of this year’s capital and operating budgets. On Wednesday, lawmakers approved the capital budget which includes roughly $306 million for school construction. This money for schools is spread across four areas: the School Construction Assistance Program, small districts, career and technical education facilities and heating, cooling and ventilation systems. That legislation now heads to the Governor for his final signature. Other areas of K-12 education that will receive funding increases are paraeducators and teacher’s aides, who have spent years advocating for pay raises, basic school maintenance, operations and supplies, and special education. In this year’s plan, districts can receive special education funding for up to 16% of their populations, up from 15%.  

On Thursday, Superintendent Chris Reykdal released his statement to the press regarding this year’s legislative session. “Through their final budgets, the Legislature has made clear their commitment to sustaining evidence-based investments in student learning and well-being that are targeted to have the greatest impact,” stated Reykdal. OSPI and Reykdal prioritized special education services, mental and behavioral health, access to school meals, increased compensation to retain paraeducators, dual language, access to early literacy programs and more.

Bills Delivered to the Governor

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance in order to reduce dual credit and exam costs for students and their families. 

3SHB 1228: which creates grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as requires literacy supports in service of American Indian and Alaska Native students, and modifies requirements related to the seal of biliteracy and the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program. For more on this, check out this article from The Seattle Times this week. 

EsHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also amends requirements related to school supplies of autoinjectors to include epinephrine. 

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš). 

HB 2110: which makes revisions to high school graduation requirement provisions without modifying the requirements or related school district and state agency duties and authorizations. 

SB 5852: which modifies safety net award eligibility and award adjustment provisions and requires that a survey of small school districts be used to implement a simplified, standardized safety net application. 

SB 5883: which establishes burden of proof requirements for special education due process hearings.  

Bills We’re Following

E4SHB 1239: which would direct the Office of the Education Ombuds to create a simple and uniform access point for the receipt of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, as well as require the PESB and the Paraeducator Board to report to the Legislature on a code of educator ethics. This bill would also modify the defense for use of force on children with respect to teachers and other school staff. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker.

ESHB 1277: which directs the Paraeducator Board to update rules and publish guidance related to the fundamental course of study, and requires school districts to provide paraeducators two days of the four-day fundamental course of study, in person and by specified deadlines, unless the school district is granted an exemption by the Paraeducator Board. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

SHB 1915:  which requires public school students, beginning with the class of 2031, and charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools, beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year, to earn one-half credit of financial education instruction (FEI) as a graduation prerequisite. The bill also directs the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership to review specified financial education information submitted by school districts and create a statewide implementation plan for the financial education credit provision and graduation requirements by September 30, 2026. The bill has passed both chambers.

E2SHB 1956:  which directs the Department of Health to develop, implement, and maintain a statewide drug overdose prevention and awareness campaign to address the drug overdose epidemic through 2029, and tasks OSPI with developing and updating age-appropriate substance use prevention and awareness materials for school and classroom use. The bill also requires OSPI to adjust the state health and physical education learning standards for middle and high school students to add opioids to the list of drugs included in drug-related education. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

2SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2027-28 school year. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

ESHB 2331: which requires school district Instructional Materials Committees (IMCs) to include at least one parent member, and directs the IMC to include recommendations for culturally and experientially representative instructional materials. The bill also prohibits school districts from refusing to approve or prohibit the use of any instructional (or supplemental) material on the basis that it relates to or includes the study or contributions of any individual or group who is part of a protected class unless the content contains discriminatory bias. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

SSB 5804: which requires all school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools, to obtain and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication in each school and to adopt a related policy. The bill also makes grant programs available for purchasing opioid overdose reversal medication and training personnel to administer the medication. For more on this bill, check out this week’s article in the Washington State Standard. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

2SSB 5882: which increases staff allocations for teaching assistants, office support staff, and non instructional aides in the prototypical school funding model. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

Odds and Ends

“Empowering students with a tool like financial education is a catalyst for unlocking greater opportunities and success in their futures. This week from The Seattle Times, Tri-Cities Student Lobbies for More Financial Literacy in WA Schools.

Last week, Washington lawmakers heard mixed testimony on Initiative 2081, which aims to bolster the voices of parents in the state’s K-12 public schools. From the Washington State Standard, “WA Lawmakers Hear Debate on Parental Rights Initiative.”

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Weekly Legislative Update: March 1, 2024

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Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that we have made it to the last week of the 2024 Legislative Session. Next Thursday, March 7, is the final day, and what a whirlwind this short session has been. On Monday, legislators watched as their bills succeeded (or failed) to make it out of fiscal committees before the 5pm deadline. Today, March 1, is the cut-off for Rules committees to get bills scheduled to the floor calendar. Bills that do not make it to the floor will never make it to the governor’s desk. 

Last Friday, the Senate passed its Operating Supplemental Budget, ESSB 5950, which will likely be the backbone of the final 2024 Operating Supplemental Budget. Keep in mind that budget bills do not follow the same path as other legislation. Most negotiations are done behind closed doors and in the final days of session. As The Seattle Times put it, “You can think of the ongoing short session, which ends March 7, as the halfway mark in the state’s two-year budget cycle,” and these particular budget negotiations have many issues lawmakers are having to factor in. 

One such factor that could impact state spending on K-12 Education is the potential impacts of Initiative 2109, which will appear on the November ballot. If passed, I-2109 would repeal the state’s new capital gains tax and the state could expect to collect about $1 billion less in that tax per year. This could have direct impacts on the state’s funding of K-12 schools. According to The Seattle Times, each year $500 million in revenues from the tax go to a state education account spanning early learning, K-12 and higher education. Any capital gains tax revenues above $500 million go toward building and repairing schools. Rep. Steve Bergquist, D-Renton, was quoted saying, “The state must fund basic K-12 education, so a repeal in November would mean that legislators would target early learning and higher education programs, as well as nonbasic spending on K-12, to trim spending of proceeds from the tax.” 

  • Watch House and Senate Floor action on TVW.org

Bills We’re Following

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance in order to reduce dual credit and exam costs for students and their families. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

3SHB 1228: which creates grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as requires literacy supports in service of American Indian and Alaska Native students, and modifies modifies requirements related to the seal of biliteracy and the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

E4SHB 1239: which would direct the Office of the Education Ombuds to create a simple and uniform access point for the receipt of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, as well as require the PESB and the Paraeducator Board to report to the Legislature on a code of educator ethics. This bill would also modify the defense for use of force on children with respect to teachers and other school staff. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1277: which directs the Paraeducator Board to update rules and publish guidance related to the fundamental course of study, and requires school districts to provide paraeducators two days of the four-day fundamental course of study, in person and by specified deadlines, unless the school district is granted an exemption by the Paraeducator Board. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

EsHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also amends requirements related to school supplies of autoinjectors to also include epinephrine. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš). The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker.

SHB 1915:  which requires public school students, beginning with the class of 2031, and charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools, beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year, to earn one-half credit of financial education instruction (FEI) as a graduation prerequisite. The bill also directs the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership to review specified financial education information submitted by school districts and create a statewide implementation plan for the financial education credit provision and graduation requirements by September 30, 2026. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

E2SHB 1956:  which directs the Department of Health to develop, implement, and maintain a statewide drug overdose prevention and awareness campaign to address the drug overdose epidemic through 2029, and tasks OSPI with developing and updating age-appropriate substance use prevention and awareness materials for school and classroom use. The bill also requires OSPI to adjust the state health and physical education learning standards for middle and high school students to add opioids to the list of drugs included in drug-related education. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2027-28 school year. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 2331:  which requires school district Instructional Materials Committees (IMCs) to include at least one parent member, and directs the IMC to include recommendations for culturally and experientially representative instructional materials. The bill also prohibits school districts from refusing to approve or prohibit the use of any instructional (or supplemental) material on the basis that it relates to or includes the study or contributions of any individual or group who is part of a protected class unless the content contains discriminatory bias. The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5804: which requires all school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools, to obtain and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication in each school and to adopt a related policy. The bill also makes grant programs available for purchasing opioid overdose reversal medication and training personnel to administer the medication. The bill has passed the House Rules Committee.

SB 5852: which modifies safety net award eligibility and award adjustment provisions and requires that a survey of small school districts be used to implement a simplified, standardized safety net application. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

2SSB 5882: which increases staff allocations for teaching assistants, office support staff, and non instructional aides in the prototypical school funding model. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SB 5883: which establishes burden of proof requirements for special education due process hearings. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the Senate President. 

Odds and Ends

“It was a little shocking for us when there was so much opposition to the bill because the intent was really to hear other genocide voices and incorporate them.” From The Seattle Times, Holocaust Education Requirement Fails in WA Legislature.

 “Some colleges and universities with teacher training programs are amending their courses so they’re more in line with the latest research.” This week from KQED’w MindShift, Teacher Training Programs Don’t Always Use Research-Backed Reading Methods.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Weekly Legislative Update: February 23, 2024

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Education Policy | , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Friday! This week kicked off with the Senate and House fiscal committees releasing their operating and supplemental budget proposals. Short sessions provide little time for lawmakers to catch their breath, because around every corner there seems to be another cut-off. Budgets tend to move fairly quickly through each chamber and the sooner they pass, the sooner committees can meet and the negotiations begin. Last week, the State Revenue Forecast was released, and it turns out that “Washington’s economy is projected to generate $67 billion for the two-year budget cycle that began July 1, up $122 million from the last forecast in November.” That gives Democratic budget writers more money than previously anticipated.

Senate lawmakers proposed their $71.7 billion supplemental operating budget, while the House is proposing just shy of that. The Olympian quoted Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, “We are proud of the investments we’re presenting today…We do not go backwards in any part of the budget, nor do we fund one program or project at the expense of another.” 

On the Senate side, one of the largest proposals in the supplemental budgets this year is $242 million for K-12 schools, which includes funding for free student meals, school construction and special education. Paraeducators would also get an increase in hourly wages under the new budget proposal that would cost the state $49.6 million.

The session officially ends Thursday, March 7, which is just around the corner. Within that time lawmakers will face two more cut-offs: February 26 (fiscal) and March 1 (Rules). This week included the last of the policy committee meetings, and the focus now shifts to the fiscal committees and whether those education bills make it out of either the House Appropriations or the Senate Ways & Means Committees. It is worth noting that two major bills failed to make it out of policy committees this week. Senator Wellman’s sponsored Senate bill, ESSB 6264, that deals with implementing competency-based education, failed at the last second in executive session to make it out of the House. On the other side, House bill 4SHB 1479, which concerns banning the use of restraints and isolation techniques in schools, also failed to make it out of executive session. 

Fiscal Hearings Next Week on TVW.org:

House Appropriations Committee

  • Friday, February 23rd @ 1:30pm
  • Monday, February 26th @ 10:30am

Senate Ways & Means Committee

  • Friday, February 23rd @ 1:30pm
  • Saturday, February 24th @ 9am
  • Monday, February 26th @ 10am

Bills We’re Following

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance (Senate hearing time: 22:30 and 30:58). Testifying in support: representatives from the WSPTA and Stand for Children. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

3SHB 1228: which relates to grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as multilingual skill bonuses for certificated instructional staff and paraeducators (Senate hearing time: 17:45 and 1:15:58). Testifying in support: representatives from WSPTA, OneAmerica and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

E4SHB 1239: which would establish a simple, uniform, and easily accessible state-level process for the receipt and classification of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, and would require school districts to post the complaint process on their websites and make information available about the complaint process. The bill would also change the defense for use of force on children with respect to teachers and other school staff (Senate hearing time: 2:14 and 42:07). Testifying in support: representatives from SCPTSA and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 1277: which requires improving the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental course of study for paraeducators (Senate hearing time: 2:40 and 35:29). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens, representatives from the WEA, PSE and PESB. Testifying as “other:” representatives from Lake Washington SD. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

EsHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also permits school districts to maintain a supply of epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors (Senate hearing time: 14:28 and 1:25:02). Testifying in support: representatives from SNOW. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš) (Senate hearing time: 6:37 and 50:28). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBE, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1915: which would require school districts by the 2025-26 school year to provide high school students with access to at least one-half credit of financial education instruction. This bill gained some press this week from The Seattle Times. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

E2SHB 1956: which directs the Secretary of Health to annually develop and distribute a statewide multimedia substance use prevention and awareness campaign that meets specified requirements and requires OSPI to distribute school and classroom substance use prevention and awareness materials (Senate hearing time: 45:19). Testifying in support: representatives from WSPTA, Washington Poison Center, the Governor’s Office, OSPI, several concerned citizens and the Mayor of Mercer Island. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HB 2110: which concerns reorganizing statutory requirements governing high school graduation (Senate hearing time: 28:38 and 48:50). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2025-26 school year (Senate hearing time: 23:28 and 49:16). Testifying in support: representatives from AWB, Washington State Skill Centers, OSPI, MIC, Workforce Board and AGC. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 2331: which would bar school boards from refusing to approve, or prohibiting the use of, an educational material on the basis that it relates to the study of contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class, and would establish new requirements for written complaints about instructional materials (Senate hearing time: 1:43:04). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5804: which would require school districts to maintain at least one set of opioid reversal medication doses within each high school (hearing time: 9:01 and 38:50). Testifying in support: student representatives from Lake Washington HS and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5849: which requires that all students show competency in high school learning standards related to computer science in order to graduate from high school, but specifies that the requirements do not increase the number of high school credits required for graduation, beginning with the 2029 graduating class. The bill also provides various options in which students may demonstrate competency in computer science learning standards (hearing time: 00:56 and 1:33:54). Testifying in support: representatives from The Sammamish HS Robotics Team. Testifying in opposition: several students from Lake Washington HS. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSSDA, WSPTA and CSTA Puget Sound. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5850: which would establish a grant program for community-based organizations to support students who are chronically absent, and would require each ESD to develop and offer staff training on early warning systems to identify and locate students who are chronically absent (House hearing time: 59:40). Testifying in support: representatives from SBCTC, OSPI, AESD, Open Doors and United Way of King Co. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 5852: would require that special education safety net awards only be adjusted for errors in applications or IEPs that materially affect the demonstration of need (House hearing time: 33:09). Testifying in support: representatives from PSE, Chehalis SD and WSSDA. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

2SSB 5882: which would phase in additional staffing allocations for paraprofessionals in instructional and non-instructional roles in an effort to improve the individualized support for student learning and behavioral needs. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 5883: provides that a school district has the burden of proof when it is a party to a special education due process hearing and creates an exception to this burden of proof requirement in circumstances when a parent seeks reimbursement for a unilateral parental placement (House hearing time: 1:10:44). Testifying in support: representatives from TeamChild and The Arc of WA State. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSSDA, Mercer Island SD, School Alliance and Small School Districts of Lewis Co. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

Odds and Ends

Bonds vs. Levies and the heavy lift of a supermajority. This week from Crosscut, Over Half of WA School Bond Measures Get a Majority Vote but Fail.

“Test scores are one way to look at how well kids are doing in school, but they increasingly don’t match grades. This is problematic when families use both to signal academic gains or strains.” From The Seattle Times’ Education Lab, “Grade Inflation is Hurting WA Students, Researchers Say.” 

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Weekly Legislative Update: February 16, 2024

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Happy Friday! Lawmakers have worked their way through another busy week on the hill and with much to show for it. Tuesday, February 13, brought with it the cut-off for all bills to be passed out of their house of origin. That put all eyes on the “Rules Committees,” with legislators waiting to see if their bill would be one to make it onto the House or Senate floor, voted on, and passed on to the opposite house. There were several education bills that did get stuck in Rules and will not move forward this session, but it is worth noting that both houses worked quickly and did get an extraordinary amount of bills on the floor and out of committee.

With that cut-off behind them, committee leaders wasted no time scheduling public hearings for bills that came to them from the opposite house. Education committees in both the House and the Senate held meetings Wednesday and Thursday with packed agendas. The next cut-off comes next Wednesday, February 21, and is the last day for policy committees of the opposite house to pass bills out of committee.

Education Hearings Next Week on TVW.org:

House Education Committee

  • Monday, February 19th @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, February 20th @ 4pm

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee

  • Monday, February 19th @ 1:30pm
  • Wednesday, February 21st @ 10:30am

Bills We’re Following

ESHB 1113: which requires the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands related to behavior that did not involve a student issued to certificated professional educators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance (Senate hearing time: 22:30 and 30:58). Testifying in support: representatives from the WSPTA and Stand for Children. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee. 

3SHB 1228: which relates to grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as multilingual skill bonuses for certificated instructional staff and paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

4SHB 1239: which would establish a simple, uniform, and easily accessible state-level process for the receipt and classification of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, and would require school districts to post the complaint process on their websites and make information available about the complaint process. The bill would also change the defense for use of force on children with respect to teachers and other school staff. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

ESHB 1277: which requires improving the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental course of study for paraeducators (Senate hearing time: 2:40 and 35:29). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens, representatives from the WEA, PSE and PESB. Testifying as “other:” representatives from Lake Washington SD. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee. 

4SHB 1479: which would limit restraint and isolation of students, including by prohibiting chemical and mechanical restraint, modifies requirements for incident notification, adds staff and governing body training requirements and establishes state compliance monitoring and support. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

EsHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also permits school districts to maintain a supply of epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš) (Senate hearing time: 6:37 and 50:28). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBE, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

SHB 1915: which would require school districts by the 2025-26 school year to provide high school students with access to at least one-half credit of financial education instruction. This bill gained some press this week from The Seattle Times. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. 

2SHB 1956: which directs the Secretary of Health to annually develop and distribute a statewide multimedia substance use prevention and awareness campaign that meets specified requirements and requires OSPI to distribute school and classroom substance use prevention and awareness materials. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. 

SHB 2037: which would require, beginning with the 2027-28 school year, public schools to provide instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides and crimes against humanity when the topic aligns with the social studies learning standards. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. 

HB 2110: which concerns reorganizing statutory requirements governing high school graduation (Senate hearing time: 28:38 and 48:50). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

2SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2025-26 school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

2SHB 2239: which would encourage school districts to provide instruction on skills that promote social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health and wellness. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

ESHB 2331: which would bar school boards from refusing to approve, or prohibiting the use of, an educational material on the basis that it relates to the study of contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class, and would establish new requirements for written complaints about instructional materials. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

SSB 5804: which would require school districts to maintain at least one set of opioid reversal medication doses within each high school (hearing time: 9:01 and 38:50). Testifying in support: student representatives from Lake Washington HS and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SSB 5849: which requires that all students show competency in high school learning standards related to computer science in order to graduate from high school, but specifies that the requirements do not increase the number of high school credits required for graduation, beginning with the 2029 graduating class. The bill also provides various options in which students may demonstrate competency in computer science learning standards (hearing time: 00:56 and 1:33:54). Testifying in support: representatives from The Sammamish HS Robotics Team. Testifying in opposition: several students from Lake Washington HS. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSSDA, WSPTA and CSTA Puget Sound. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SSB 5850: which would establish a grant program for community-based organizations to support students who are chronically absent, and would require each ESD to develop and offer staff training on early warning systems to identify and locate students who are chronically absent. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SB 5852: would require that special education safety net awards only be adjusted for errors in applications or IEPs that materially affect the demonstration of need (House hearing time: 33:09). Testifying in support: representatives from PSE, Chehalis SD and WSSDA. The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

2SSB 5882: which would phase in additional staffing allocations for paraprofessionals in instructional and non-instructional roles in an effort to improve the individualized support for student learning and behavioral needs. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 5883: provides that a school district has the burden of proof when it is a party to a special education due process hearing and creates an exception to this burden of proof requirement in circumstances when a parent seeks reimbursement for a unilateral parental placement (House hearing time: 1:10:44). Testifying in support: representatives from TeamChild and The Arc of WA State. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSSDA, Mercer Island SD, School Alliance and Small School Districts of Lewis Co. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESSB 6264: which would require the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop and recommend a process to identify and designate schools and school districts that are implementing competency-based education (CBE) and identify costs associated with this process (House hearing time: 1:19 and 1:32:38). Testifying in support: representatives from Medical Lake SD and SBE. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

Odds and Ends

Celebrate Black History Month with these books for kids about African Americans in the arts and entrepreneurship, handpicked by the Chicago Public Library staff.

Dig into the details of HB 1956, referred to as the “fentanyl education bill,” this week in The Seattle Times.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Weekly Legislative Update: February 9, 2024

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Education Policy | , , , , , , , ,

Happy Friday! The legislature reached yet another major cut-off of the 2023-24 Legislative Session. Monday, February 5, was the last day for fiscal committees (House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means) to pass bills out of their house of origin. Both fiscal committees held marathon hearings, a few surpassing 9 hour stretches, in the hopes to cover as many bills as possible. Many education bills we have been following made the cut, however, there were several bills that died in the fiscal committee process. One such bill, HB 2058, which aimed to provide free school meals to all requesting students, failed to make it out of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday and will no longer move forward this session. 

After the fiscal cut-off on Monday, both the House and Senate shifted their focus to full-time floor activity. Bills that are sitting in respective “Rules Committees,” may get considered, and scheduled to be placed on the floor calendar by their leadership, caucused on, and then brought to a vote before they move on to the opposite house. This is a lot of steps to be completed before the next session cut-off date and there are hundreds of bills sitting in Rules Committees. Next Tuesday, February 13, is the last day for bills to be passed out of their house of origin in order to “stay alive.”

  • Watch TVW.org for live action floor coverage of the House and Senate this week.

Bills We’re Following

ESHB 1113: which requires the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands related to behavior that did not involve a student issued to certificated professional educators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

2SHB 1228: which relates to grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as multilingual skill bonuses for certificated instructional staff and paraeducators (hearing time: 1:41:46). Testified in support: representatives from OSPI and OneAmerica. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

4SHB 1239: which would establish a simple, uniform, and easily accessible state-level process for the receipt and classification of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, and would require school districts to post the complaint process on their websites and make information available about the complaint process (hearing time: 1:50:07). Testified in support: a concerned citizen and representatives from the SCPTSA. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESHB 1277: which requires improving the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental course of study for paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

4SHB 1479: which would limit restraint and isolation of students, including by prohibiting chemical and mechanical restraint, modifies requirements for incident notification, adds staff and governing body training requirements and establishes state compliance monitoring and support  (hearing time: 1:57:00). Testifying in support: a concerned citizen and representatives from Disability Rights Washington and the Arc of King County. Testifying as “other:” a concerned citizen and representatives from the WEA, PSE. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

3SHB 1565: which considers a feasibility report for a statewide online platform for recruitment and hiring of public school employees, establishes teacher residency programs, requires a teacher exchange program report, intends to improve beginning educator quality and increase beginning educator retention and to establish minimum requirements for educator workforce research (hearing time: 1:20:54). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

EsHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also permits school districts to maintain a supply of epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors (hearing time: 3:42). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš) (hearing time: 00:37). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 1915: which would require school districts by the 2025-26 school year to provide high school students with access to at least one-half credit of financial education instruction (hearing time: 22:26). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 1935: which promotes resource conservation practices that include student education and leadership opportunities in public schools (hearing time: 45:54). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

2SHB 1956: which directs the Secretary of Health to annually develop and distribute a statewide multimedia substance use prevention and awareness campaign that meets specified requirements and requires OSPI to distribute school and classroom substance use prevention and awareness materials (hearing time: 2:14:49). Testifying in support: representatives from the Office of the Governor. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2037: which would require, beginning with the 2027-28 school year, public schools to provide instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides and crimes against humanity when the topic aligns with the social studies learning standards (hearing time: 51:04). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2038: which concerns data collection on student transfers and withdrawals from public schools and school districts (hearing time: 1:18:20). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 2110: which concerns reorganizing statutory requirements governing high school graduation (hearing time: 48:53). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

2SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2025-26 school year (hearing time: 4:07:09). Testified as “other:” representatives from the AGC and the AWB. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

2SHB 2239: which would encourage school districts to provide instruction on skills that promote social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health and wellness (hearing time: 3:07:24). Testifying in support: representatives from Committee for Children, NAMI Washington and the National Parents Association. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2267: which would provide public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies (hearing time: 56:00). The bill is in the House Rules committee.

SHB 2331: which would bar school boards from refusing to approve, or prohibiting the use of, an educational material on the basis that it relates to the study of contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class, and would establish new requirements for written complaints about instructional materials (hearing time: 11:08). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2398: which would require school district instructional materials committees (IMCs) to include parents of students in a number equaling less than one half of the total membership of the IMC (hearing time: 11:08). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5804: which would require school districts to maintain at least one set of opioid reversal medication doses within each high school (hearing time: 11:24 and 45:14). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5849: which requires that all students show competency in high school learning standards related to computer science in order to graduate from high school, but specifies that the requirements do not increase the number of high school credits required for graduation, beginning with the 2029 graduating class. The bill also provides various options in which students may demonstrate competency in computer science learning standards (hearing time: 4:37:24). Testifying in support: a concerned citizen. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5850: which would establish a grant program for community-based organizations  to support students who are chronically absent, and would require each ESD to develop and offer staff training on early warning systems to identify and locate students who are chronically absent (hearing time: 32:28). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBTCT, OPSI, UWKC, WSCA and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee. 

2SSB 5851: which requires public middle, junior high, and high schools to provide Holocaust and genocide instruction when this topic aligns with the social studies learning standards beginning with the 2027-28 school year (hearing time: 5:52:23). Testifying in support: representatives of the Holocaust Center for Humanity, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Vancouver Schools and several concerned citizens. Testified as “other:”representatives from WASEN and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from BAI and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee. 

SB 5852: would require that special education safety net awards only be adjusted for errors in applications or IEPs that materially affect the demonstration of need (hearing time: 5:44:50). Testifying in support: representatives from South Sound Superintendents, Chehalis SD, WSSDA and Mercer Island SD. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SSB 5882: which would phase in additional staffing allocations for paraprofessionals in instructional and non-instructional roles in an effort to improve the individualized support for student learning and behavioral needs (hearing time: 4:54:06). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA, OSPI, Tukwila SD, South Sound Superintendents, PSE and the WSPTA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Washington Policy Center. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 5883: provides that a school district has the burden of proof when it is a party to a special education due process hearing and creates an exception to this burden of proof requirement in circumstances when a parent seeks reimbursement for a unilateral parental placement (hearing time: 7:01 and 38:26). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 6205: which would mandate instruction on the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance in public schools (hearing time: 19:00). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 6264: which would require the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop and recommend a process to identify and designate schools and school districts that are implementing competency-based education (CBE) and identify costs associated with this process (hearing time: 5:33:51). Testifying in support: a concerned citizen.  Testifying in opposition: several concerned citizens and representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

Odds and Ends

Is there a good way to go about combating screen time in the lives of teens? This week from The Seattle Times’ Education Lab, Educators Share 5 Ways to Confront Kids’ Screen Time.

This made me smile and thought it worth including: The Music Teacher Who Just Won a Grammy Says it Belongs to Her Students.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Weekly Legislative Update: February 2, 2024

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We have made it to the end of another week on the hill, and this one came with its first major cut-off of the session. Wednesday, January 31, was the last day for committees to pass bills out of their house of origin. Bills that were not scheduled for executive session and voted out of committee by 5pm on Wednesday, did not move forward. It was a flurry of activity and hearing schedules were packed. Lawmakers have to make the most of their time during short sessions because time between cut-offs is brief at best. Monday, February 5, is the fiscal committee cut-off, meaning that bills currently in the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees will need to be voted out by end of day Monday.

We watched as various bills that were expected to move forward this session came to a standstill on Wednesday. Although not uncommon, there were quite a few bills that shared companion bills in the opposite house that did not move forward. SB 5559, which concerned restraint or isolation of students in public schools, did not make it out of the Senate Ed committee on Wednesday, but its companion bill in the house, 3SHB 1479, did move forward. 

A big win for Senator Wellman and the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee was moving forward SSB 5804, which would put the life-saving opioid reversal medication naloxone, or “narcan,” in all Washington K-12 public schools. As reported in Crosscut, this legislation is timely as Washington experiences a public health crisis driven by the rise in fentanyl related overdoses and deaths. Its companion in the house, HB 2029, did not move forward.

Fiscal Committee Hearings on TVW.org:

Senate Ways & Means Committee

  • Friday, February 2nd @ 1:30pm
  • Saturday, February 3rd @ 9am
  • Monday, February 5th @ 10am

House Appropriations Committee

  • Friday, February 2nd @ 10:30pm
  • Saturday, February 3rd @ 9am
  • Monday, February 5th @ 10:30am

Bills We’re Following

ESHB 1113: which requires the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands related to behavior that did not involve a student issued to certificated professional educators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

HB 1146: which requires public schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

2SHB 1228: which would establish grant programs for establishing dual language education and tribal language education programs, as well as establish multilingual skill bonuses for certificated instructional staff and paraeducators (hearing time: 12:47). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

3SHB 1239: which would establish a simple, uniform, and easily accessible state-level process for the receipt and classification of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system, and would require school districts to post the complaint process on their websites and make information available about the complaint process (hearing time: 39:40). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESHB 1277: which requires improving the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental course of study for paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee.

3SHB 1479: which concerns restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs (hearing time: 18:33 and 40:26). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

3SHB 1565: which requires a feasibility report for a statewide online platform for recruitment and hiring of public school employees, establishes teacher residency programs, requires a teacher exchange program report, intends to improve beginning educator quality and increase beginning educator retention and to establish minimum requirements for educator workforce research (hearing time: 1:20:54). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

EsHB 1608: which requires the Secretary of Health to issue a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors to any school district for use by designated trained school personnel. The bill also permits school districts to maintain a supply of epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors (hearing time: 3:42). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

HB 1879: which would name the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš) (hearing time: 00:37). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 1914: which aims to improve special education services received by qualifying students by requiring school districts to provide parents information about the Office of the Education Ombuds with special education materials, and to provide parents with a monthly report about the quantity and method of special education services delivered to their students (hearing time: 1:37:53). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 1915: which would require school districts by the 2025-26 school year to provide high school students with access to at least one-half credit of financial education instruction (hearing time: 22:26). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1922: which would require OSPI to establish a grant program for the purchase and installation of vape detectors in public schools (hearing time: 1:36:19). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1935: which promotes resource conservation practices that include student education and leadership opportunities in public schools (hearing time: 45:54). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 1956: which directs the Secretary of Health to annually develop and distribute a statewide multimedia substance use prevention and awareness campaign that meets specified requirements and requires OSPI to distribute school and classroom substance use prevention and awareness materials  (hearing time: 0:46). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 2018: which would require OSPI to conduct a two year pilot program where selected sites implement a strategy to restrict student mobile device use during instructional hours and to report to the OSPI with certain information related to implementing the restriction, and would requires the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) to develop a model policy for restricting student mobile device use during instructional hours based on the information gathered from the pilot program (hearing time 1:21:44). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 2037: which would require, beginning with the 2027-28 school year, public schools to provide instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides and crimes against humanity when the topic aligns with the social studies learning standards (hearing time: 51:04). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2038: which concerns data collection on student transfers and withdrawals from public schools and school districts (hearing time: 1:18:20). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

HB 2058: which would require all school districts to provide breakfast and lunch without charge to any requesting students, beginning with the 2024–25 school year (hearing time: 31:24 and 1:04:15). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 2110: which concerns reorganizing statutory requirements governing high school graduation (hearing time: 48:53). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2130: which would extend eligibility for special education services to the end of the school year in which a student eligible for special education services turns 22 years of age (hearing time: 0:44). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 2236: which directs OSPI to develop an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Core Plus Program and provide available curriculum and instructional materials to districts and skill centers for optional use by the 2025-26 school year (hearing time 1:05:30). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 2239: which would encourage school districts to provide instruction on skills that promote social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health and wellness (hearing time: 16:12). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SHB 2267: which would provide public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies (hearing time: 56:00). The bill is in the House Rules committee.

SHB 2331: which would bar school boards from refusing to approve, or prohibiting the use of, an educational material on the basis that it relates to the study of contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class, and would establish new requirements for written complaints about instructional materials (hearing time: 11:08). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SHB 2398: which would require school district instructional materials committees (IMCs) to include parents of students in a number equaling less than one half of the total membership of the IMC (hearing time: 11:08). The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5804: which would require school districts to maintain at least one set of opioid reversal medication doses within each high school (hearing time: 11:24 and 45:14). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5809: which would authorize charter schools to apply for state grants on the same basis as school districts (hearing time: 1:05:54). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SSB 5849: which requires that all students show competency in high school learning standards related to computer science in order to graduate from high school, but specifies that the requirements do not increase the number of high school credits required for graduation, beginning with the 2029 graduating class. The bill also provides various options in which students may demonstrate competency in computer science learning standards (hearing time: 1:18:12). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5850: which would establish a grant program for community-based organizations  to support students who are chronically absent, and would require each ESD to develop and offer staff training on early warning systems to identify and locate students who are chronically absent (hearing time: 1:12:13). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SSB 5851: which requires public middle, junior high, and high schools to provide Holocaust and genocide instruction when this topic aligns with the social studies learning standards beginning with the 2027-28 school year (hearing time: 4:00). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5852: would require that special education safety net awards only be adjusted for errors in applications or IEPs that materially affect the demonstration of need. (hearing time: 1:52 and 26:52). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SSB 5882: which would phase in additional staffing allocations for paraprofessionals in instructional and non-instructional roles in an effort to improve the individualized support for student learning and behavioral needs (hearing time: 28:55). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5883: provides that a school district has the burden of proof when it is a party to a special education due process hearing and creates an exception to this burden of proof requirement in circumstances when a parent seeks reimbursement for a unilateral parental placement (hearing time: 7:01 and 38:26). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SSB 5923: which tasks OSPI to review and update substance use prevention education materials and resources provided to students and families in middle and high schools and requires education to prevent fentanyl and other opioid use to be provided once a year to all students in seventh and ninth grade (hearing time: 14:11 and 58:18). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 6014: which would increase the K-12 special education enrollment funding cap from 15 percent to 17.25 percent (hearing time 19:51 and 1:06:02). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 6018: which would designate early learning coordinators at educational service districts (hearing time: 51:07). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 6123: which would establish the minimum state average allocation for salaries for classified administrative staff at $91,733, and for other classified staff to $54,633, beginning with the 2024-25 school year  (hearing time: 22:23). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SSB 6205: which would mandate instruction on the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance in public schools (hearing time: 19:00). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 6216: which would establish a regional school-based mental and behavioral health student assistance program through the educational service districts (ESDs), and would create a grant program to support school districts in developing and implementing a plan for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students (hearing time: 1:02:39). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SSB 6264: which would require the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop and recommend a process to identify and designate schools and school districts that are implementing competency-based education (CBE) and identify costs associated with this process (hearing time: 59:30). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Odds and Ends

How daily mindfulness lessons are showing positive results in one Florida elementary school. This week from NPR, To Help These Kids Deal With Trauma, Mindfulness Lessons Over the Loudspeaker.

“Some educators prefer inquiry; some prefer direct instruction. Depending upon your biases, you’re likely to see a complicated, mixed body of research as glass half full or glass half empty.” From KQED’s MindShift, Two Groups of Scholars Revive the Debate Over Inquiry vs. Direct Instruction.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.

Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.