Legislative Update for the week of February 14

Posted by on
Education, Education Policy | , , ,

That’s a wrap on week 5 of the legislative session. Action on the hill was everywhere and legislators continue to advocate for their bills in order to get them scheduled for executive session; which is not an easy task. The steady drip of new bills has slowed way down and attention turns to next week and the first cut-off of this 2025 session. Bills must be passed out of their policy committee by the end of day next Friday, February 21. This becomes a pressure situation, with committee chairs doing their best to schedule and “exec” the bills that are ready and have the votes. Bills that have not been passed out of policy committees by next Friday are considered, “dead,” and will not move forward.

On Tuesday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee heard testimony on the first few education bills that were referred from the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee: SB 5192, regarding funding for school materials and SB 5263, regarding special education funding, both received long public hearings. After next week, expect the agendas of both the House Appropriations and the Senate Ways & Means Committees to be full.

Education Committee Schedules for next week on tvw.org

House Education Committee:

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

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Tuesday, February 18 @ 8am
  • Wednesday, February 19 @ 10:30 am
  • Thursday February 20 @ 10:30 am

House Bills

Bills we’re following:

HB 1051: which gives parents and guardians of students with qualifying disabilities the right to audio record their student’s individualized education program team meetings (hearing time: 1:27 and 26:29). Testifying in support: several  concerned citizens, representatives from Washington Autism Alliance and the SCPTSA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the WEA, the Mead SD and the Issaquah Education Assoc. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1079: which would allow school districts to provide all students enrolled in online school programs the option to take statewide standardized tests remotely, beginning in the 2026-27 school year (hearing time: 1:49:59). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1257: which requires that special education and related services for students with disabilities be provided to the end of the school year in which a student turns age 22, or high school graduation, whichever occurs first (hearing time: 31:19). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, CISWA and several concerned citizens. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1273: which directs ESDs to collaborate with specified entities to streamline regional efforts that support students’ dual credit access and directs the SBCTC to develop a plan for improving its online career and technical education (CTE) dual credit administrative data system (hearing time: 7:50). Testifying in support: representatives from UW Bothell, WA STEM, Career Connect NW and ESD 112. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WACTE and the SBCTC. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

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. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

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

HB 1393: which requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear one item or object of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events (hearing time: 1:07). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens, representatives from WSCA and the AWSP.  Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am

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

HB 1414: which directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to establish a work group to recommend changes to state laws and practices affecting the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who completed career and technical education programs (hearing time: 1:55). Testifying in support: representatives from the Tri-Tech Skills Center, several concerned citizens, Washington Skill Centers and Northwest Maritime. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1450: which directs OSPI to administer TTK programs in coordination with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to authorize programs, approve sites, and set enrollment caps. The bill also limits early entry to kindergarten to children who are likely to be successful in kindergarten as well as aligns TTK and ECEAP standards  (hearing time: 54:33). Testifying in support: representatives from WACHILD. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the WEA, the Rural Ed Center, several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from Start Early WA, Meridian SD, WACHARTERS, FYSB, OSPI, WSA Head Start & ECEAP and several concerned citizens. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1634: which would establish a network of statewide and regional partners to provide school districts with the technical assistance, resources, and training necessary to coordinate comprehensive student supports relating to behavioral health (hearing time: 2:20). Testifying in support: representatives from the AESD, OSPI, CISWA, Medical Lake SD and several concerned citizens.  Testifying in opposition: several concerned citizens. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1651: which establishes teacher residency programs, describes a teacher apprenticeship program and establishes requirements for teacher apprenticeship programs (and number of hours) and requires the PESB to establish a process to approve these programs (hearing time: 1:15:51). Testifying in support: representatives from PESB and a concerned citizen. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the WEA. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1676: which establishes a state maximum of 24 charter schools that may operate at any one time and authorizes the Washington State Charter School Commission to reassign and authorize a charter contract that has been surrendered, revoked, or not renewed  (hearing time: 132:02). Testifying in support: representatives from WA Charters and BESRWA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the WEA, Puget Sound Skill Center, OSPI and OLYEA. Scheduled for executive session on February 17 at 1:30pm.

HB 1795: which would place restrictions on the restraint and isolation techniques used on students, and specifically would ban chemical and mechanical restraint. As well as modifies notification requirements and would provide staff training requirements (hearing time: 1:20:18). Testifying in support: the representatives from the Arc of King CO, several concerned citizens and several concerned citizens.Testifying as “other:” representatives from the WEA, AWSP, PSE, Pullman SD, Lakewood SD and several concerned citizens. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1817:  directs OSPI to post staff training materials on trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault and to develop a student and family guide on laws, policies, and procedures related to this topic and mandatory reporting as we as requires mandatory reporter training for school employees (hearing time: 24:02). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: several concerned citizens. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

HB 1832: which would provide funding for students not meeting ELA or math standards, provides funding for schools that meet a specified assessment growth threshold, and repeals National Board Certificate Bonuses (hearing time: 101:45). Testifying in support: representatives from the Washington Policy Center and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: representatives from OSPI, WEA and a concerned citizen. Scheduled for executive session on February 20 at 8am.

Senate Bills

New this week:

SB 5724: which would improve student access to dual credit programs, including career and technical education dual credit programs.

Bills we’re following: 

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. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

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

SB 5123: which would add  protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence (hearing time: 1:07:49). Testifying in support: representatives from LYAC, WSASP, several concerned citizens  Testifying in opposition: representatives from Reject 5599, several concerned citizens and the Lynden SB. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

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

SB 5179: which directs OSPI to establish a process to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline (hearing time: 1:32:51). Testifying in support: The Arc of King County, OSPI, WSASP. Testifying in opposition: representatives from WSSDA, and several concerned citizens. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and scheduled for public hearing on February 17 at 4pm.

ESSB 5181: which modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school and removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment (hearing time: 2:29). 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 has been referred to the House Education Committee. From the Washington State Standard, WA Senate Democrats Approve Changes to Parents, “Bill of Rights.”

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, La Conner 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. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and is scheduled for public hearing on February 17 at 4:00 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

SB 5272: which expands the school-related crimes of Interference by Force or Violence and Intimidation by Threat of Force or Violence, and increases the penalties for Interference by Force or Violence. The bill also requires standard signage notifying the public of these offenses and possible penalties to be displayed at public school gymnasiums, auditoriums, and public school athletic fields (hearing time: 5:16). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, WACTE, Spokane PS, WOA, TEAMCHILD, Latin Community Fund, a concerned citizen. Testifying as “other:” representatives from AWSP. The bill was passed out of committee.

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.

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

SB 5352: which requires all school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to provide breakfast and lunch at no charge to any requesting student, beginning with the 2026-27 school year (hearing time: 11:34). Testifying in support: representatives from Governor Ferguson’s Office, CISWA, AEA, Franklin-Pierce SD, Washington SNA, WEA, Food Life Line, Kent SD Board of Directors, WA Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Bethel SD and several concerned citizens.

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

SB 5369: which amends the statutory definition of school social worker and grants authority for ESDs to coordinate with local mental health agencies to arrange for in-school placements of licensed social worker associates and masters of social work candidates (hearing time: 1:35 and 1:07:45). Testifying in support: representatives from the UW Smart Center, WSCA, OSPI, NAMI WA, NAMI Youth, Communities in Schools of WA, Elevate with Purpose Initiative and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSASP, WASSW and the PESB. The bill was passed out of committee and sent to the Senate Rules Committee.

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

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

SB 5517: which increases the minimum state allocation for classified staff salaries over three school years, beginning in the 2025-26 school year and provides different minimum state allocations for classified administrative staff and other classified staff beginning in the 2027-28 (hearing time: 36:20). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA, SEA, Foster High School, SEIU 925, several concerned citizens, PSE SEIU and WASBO. Testifying as “other:” Supt. of Deer Park SD.

SB 5551: which requires by September 1, 2026, each school district must adopt or amend: A policy that acknowledges the requirement for boards of  directors to provide every student with access to school library information and technology programs (hearing time: 29:58). Testifying in support: representatives from the WLA and several concerned citizens. Testifying in opposition: the Supt. of Deer Park SD and the Northshore SD. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the Mead SD.

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

SB 5596: which states that every  person employed by a school district in a teaching or other nonsupervisory certificated position shall be subject to nonrenewal of employment contract during the first three years of employment by such district, unless, the employee has previously completed at least two years of certificated employment in another school district in the state of Washington (hearing time: 55:24). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Dept. of Defense. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the PESB and CSG. Scheduled for executive session on February 18 at 8am.

SB 5637: which requires school districts that operate a high school provide a mandatory one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school student hearing time: 1:28). Testifying in support: several high school students and representatives from LYAC. Scheduled for executive session on February 18 at 8am.

SB 5654: which prohibits certain interventions, including chemical and mechanical restraint, and prohibits the construction of isolation rooms. The bill allows physical restraint and isolation only when certain requirements are met and prohibits the isolation of students in prekindergarten through grade five beginning August 1, 2027 (hearing time 00:54). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, Disability of Rights WA, TEAMCHILD, True Measure Collaborative, Crisis Prevention Inst., ARC of King County, Pullman SD, SEAC, and several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the LILAC Learning Center, SEIU 925 paraeducators, AWSP, WEA and PSE.

SB 5693: which describes a teacher residency, establishes requirements for Teacher Residency Programs, and directs the PESB to establish a process for approving the transition of an existing Teacher Preparation Program to a Teacher Residency Program (hearing time: 1:08:35).

Odds and Ends

There has been a lot of press regarding national scores in math and reading, but what can we do about it? From NPR, A Deep Dive on US Reading and Math Scores, and What to do About Them.

An interesting take on strictly following the curriculum. From, “The Conversation,” Why Being Forced to Precisely Follow a Curriculum Harms Teachers and Students.