Happy Friday! Lawmakers were hard at work this week, hearing testimony on a number of bills as well as still introducing new legislation to be considered by their peers. However, it’s hard to deny the role that the state’s Operating Budget is playing this session. With a projected $12 billion deficit and the short time in which lawmakers can address it, the budget remains top of mind and top of conversation.
Fiscal committees held hearings last week, listening to public testimony on the operating budget bills in both the House, HB 1198, and in the Senate, SB 5167. Representatives from all areas of the education system showed up to voice their thoughts regarding additional funding needs for our K-12 education system. If the start of session is any indicator of what the remaining weeks will look like, we are in for some major debate and discussion about where and how much we can allocate to our public schools.
The House Education Committee held two lengthy work sessions this week. Tuesday’s meeting focused on the work that the legislature has done thus far to address student behavioral and mental health in our state. HB 1547, which would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health, and is sponsored by the committee chair, Sharon Tomiko-Santos, is another example of this sustained effort over the last few cycles.
Over in the senate, the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, heard hours of testimony on topics focused on preventing discrimination, school inclusivity and two separate but similar bills: SB 5263 and SB 5307, focused on special education. Increasing funding for special education has been a focal point for Washington’s State Superintendent, Chris Reykdol. He told KUOW last week, regarding his request for an additional $3 billion in K-12 funding, “about a third of that increase would go toward special education.”
Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org
House Education Committee:
- Monday, January 27 @ 1:30pm
- Tuesday, January 28 @ 4pm
- Thursday, January 1/30 @ 8am
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:
- Tuesday, January 28 @ 8am
- Wednesday, January 29 @ 10:30am
- Thursday, January 30 @ 10:30am
House Bills
New this week:
HB 1393: which would provide public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies.
HB 1404: which would increase student access to free meals served at public schools. Referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 1414: which would create a CTE work group to improve access to career opportunities for students.
HB 1528: which would improve individualized education plans (IEPs) for special education.
HB 1547: which would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.
Bills we’re following:
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 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. Referred to the Community Safety Committee.
HB 1122 or SB 5346: which would determine restrictions on mobile device usage by public school students. From The Seattle Times, Banning Cell Phones in Schools Gains Popularity in Red and Blue States.
HB 1134: which would promote resource conservation practices in public schools.
HB 1151: which would establish the ninth-grade success grant program. Referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
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 1285: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools and requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate (hearing time: 2:35). Testifying in support: Representatives from FEPPP, WASA, WABankers, NAIFA, several concerned citizens and the SBE. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSPTA.
HB 1295: which would use evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for public elementary students.
HB 1296: which would make changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children, establish a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, and would establish anti-retaliation protections for public school employees (hearing time: 1:12:20). Testifying in support: representatives from the SCPTSA, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from Eatonville School Board and Reject 5599. Testified as “other:” representatives from WA State LGBQ Commission and WSSDA.
Senate Bills
New this week:
SB 5327: which addresses learning standards and graduation requirements.
SB 5358: which concerns career and technical education in sixth grade.
SB 5369: which aims to enhance youth mental health and well-being through advanced training and expansion of the workforce in schools.
Bills we’re following:
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 requires OSPI to establish a temporary grant program to support the use of assessment, diagnostic, and learning tools for K-12 students in math and English language arts, subject to appropriations. (hearing time: 1:04).
SB 5097: which relates to school boards and ensuring competitiveness in girls’ interscholastic athletic activities.
SB 5120: which would expand the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) allocations for high poverty schools from 1.1 to 1.6 hours per week (hearing time: 46:06). Testifying in support: representatives from Seattle PS, Tukwila SD, WEA, LEV, WSASP, OSPI and the Foundation for Tacoma Students.
SB 5123: which would add protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence (hearing time: 1:07:49). Testifying in support: representatives from LYAC, WSASP, several concerned citizens Testifying in opposition: representatives from Reject 5599, several concerned citizens and the Lynden SB.
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 5137: which requires parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.
SB 5177: which would require OSPI to specify that the professional development resources that are provided on certain topics must consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (hearing time: 1:03:44). Testifying in support: representatives from The Arc of King County, SCPTSA and LYAC. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA, and a concerned citizen.
SB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline (hearing time: 1:32:51). Testifying in support: The Arc of King County, OSPI, WSASP. Testifying in opposition: representatives from WSSDA, and several concerned citizens.
SB 5180: which specifies certain components that must be included in a model policy and procedure relating to gender inclusive schools, as well as protects school employees from retaliation if they supported a student who exercised certain rights, or used curriculum or instructional materials that address subject matter related to sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity (hearing time: 33:42). Testifying in support: representatives from SCPTSA, the Shoreline SD, WA State LGBT Commission, PFLAG Skagit, the Queer Power Alliance, and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the Lavender Rights Project.
SB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school and removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment (hearing time: 2:29). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, Sexual Violence Law Center, WSPTA, Gender Justice League, Northwest Progressive Institute and the WEA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the WSCC, Lynden School Board, Eatonville SB and several concerned citizens. The bill passed out of committee and was sent to the Senate Rules Committee.
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 increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) as well as provides that MSOC calculations must use a three-year rolling average for student enrollment and must be adjusted annually for inflation (hearing time: 1:29:07). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA, the Supt of Bellevue SD, Supt of Tukwila SD, CFO of Federal Way PS, Supt of Highline PS, Supt of Richland SD, Supt of Kennewick SD, Supt of Seattle PS, Supt of ESD 105, Supt of Lake Stevens SD, Supt of Issaquah SD and the Supt of Deer Park SD. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the Chehalis SD.
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 increase the special education funding multipliers to 1.6381 for Pre-K students and 1.5289 for K-12 students and would eliminate multiplier tiers that provide different levels of funding based on time spent in a general education setting (hearing time: 2:14). Testifying in support: representatives from WSSDA, WASA, WSPTA, WEA, Supt of University Place, Supt of Franklin-Pierce SD, Supt of Peninsula SD, Supt of Cheney PS, Lake Stevens SD, Supt of Issaquah, Supt of Richland SD, Supt of Kennewick SD, School Alliance, SCPTSA and OSPI.
SB 5270 and 1352: which would provide mentors to novice nurses in the beginning educator support team program.
SB 5307: which would increase the special education funding multipliers for Pre-K and K-12 students, remove the 16 percent special education enrollment funding cap, and would allow OSPI to reserve up to 0.005 of excess cost allocations to use for certain statewide special education activities (hearing time: 2:14). Testifying in support: representatives from WSSDA, WASA, WSPTA, WEA, Supt of Seattle Public Schools, The Arc of King Co, OSPI, Supt of Bellevue School District, Supt of Tukwila SD, Federal Way PS, Supt of Highline PS, Supt of Issaquah, School Alliance, SCPTSA and several concerned citizens.
Odds and Ends
“Our school districts will be bankrupt … they will be required to do layoffs and school closures if we don’t take a very big leap forward in funding for special education for this coming school year.” From The Seattle Times, Why it could be a Big Year for Education in the WA Legislature.
On a lighter note…check out this new podcast, Spectacular Specimens, that airs on KUOW as of this week. The show is aimed towards curious kids and dives into the collections at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, the oldest museum in Washington state.