Tag Archives: social emotional learning

Weekly Legislative Update: February 23, 2024

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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 9, 2024

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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.

Legislative Update: January 19, 2024

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Happy Friday! It has been a flurry of bills, hearings, and committee action in Olympia this week. The short session requires focus and quick action. Lawmakers only have two weeks to pass bills out of their respective houses of origin before they face their first cut-off on January 31st.

This week we saw a focus on fentanyl-prevention bills in both the house and the senate. The senate’s Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee held a public hearing on SB 5804, which requires school districts to obtain and maintain at least one set of opioid overdose reversal medication (Narcan) in each high school. This public hearing drew testimony of over 10 High School seniors from Lake Washington High School, imploring lawmakers to take swift action on the legislation. According to reports in the Spokesman-Review, in 2022, more than 2,000 people died of opioid-involved overdoses in Washington. Those teen testifiers should be relieved to hear that the Senate Ed committee amended (to include elementary and middle schools) and passed this bill out of committee on Wednesday afternoon.

Next week’s pace will be just as busy, if not more so, as lawmakers cruise closer towards impending deadlines. New bills will continue to trickle in, but expect the number to become less and less each day.

Education Hearings Scheduled for Next Week on TVW.org

House Education Committee

  • Monday, January 22nd @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, January 23rd @ 4pm
  • Thursday, January 25th @ 8am

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee

  • Monday, January 22nd @ 1:30pm
  • Wednesday, January 24th @10:30am
  • Thursday, January 25th @ 1:30pm

Important Legislative Links

Legislative Website: Get information on bills, legislators, hearings and more.

Bill Tracker: Track specific bills, read bill reports.

TVW: Watch live and archived legislative proceedings.

Note about legislative updates:

CSTP relays these legislative updates to provide information on bills, budgets and legislative processes. CSTP doesn’t have a legislative agenda, but does track legislative issues most relevant to teaching.

New Bills This Week

HB 2331: which would modify requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials. Scheduled for public hearing on January 23rd at 4pm.

HB 2398: which would require parent representation on instructional materials committees. Scheduled for public hearing on January 23rd at 4pm.

SB 6205: which would mandate instruction on the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance in public schools. Scheduled for public hearing on January 25th @ 10:30am.

SB 6208: which would modify requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 1:30pm.

SB 6216: establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 10:30am.

SB 6236: which would require the filing of a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 10:30am.

SB 6264: which would support the implementation of competency-based education. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 1:30pm.

SB 6274: which would establish a grant program to fund school resource officers on public school campuses.

Bills We’re Following

HB 2331: which would modify requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials. Scheduled for public hearing on January 23rd at 4pm.

HB 2398: which would require parent representation on instructional materials committees. Scheduled for public hearing on January 23rd at 4pm.

SB 6205: which would mandate instruction on the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance in public schools. Scheduled for public hearing on January 25th @ 10:30am.

SB 6208: which would modify requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 1:30pm.

SB 6216: establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 10:30am.

SB 6236: which would require the filing of a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 10:30am.

SB 6264: which would support the implementation of competency-based education. Scheduled for public hearing on January 24th @ 1:30pm.

SB 6274: which would establish a grant program to fund school resource officers on public school campuses.

Odds and Ends

As enrollment continues to wane in many districts around the Puget Sound Area, districts are faced with the hard decision of closing schools. This week from The Seattle Times, WA Districts Facing Steep Enrollment Declines Consider Closing Schools.

“A study published by the Cambridge University Press in 2023 found that not only did the pandemic increase social isolation, but the social isolation that children ages 6-17 experienced dramatically increased their rate of diagnosed anxiety.” From KQED’s MindShift, When Adults Learn About Trauma Informed Practices, Students Can Recover. 

Legislative Update: January 12, 2024

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The 2024 Washington State Legislative session officially started on Monday, January 8. With this being a short session, and time being a major factor in getting bills heard and passed out of committee, lawmakers wasted no time filing bills and scheduling them for committee held public hearings. The Senate’s Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee held two committee meetings this first week, hearing over ten newly filed bills. While its counterpart in the house, the House Education Committee, held two work sessions on the topic of Student Isolation and Restraint. The first session cut-off is January 31st, only three weeks away, and will be the last day for legislators to pass bills out of committee within their respective house of origin.

On Wednesday, January 10th, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, gave his third annual update on the state of Washington’s K–12 students, educators, and schools. In his address, Reykdal covered a wide range of topics including:  digital/media literacy standards in schools, AI learning standards, staffing increases in the areas of social and emotional support, CTE course integration, transitional kindergarten services, tackling chronic absenteeism, and the continued investment of special education funding.

Lastly, it’s worth a quick mention that on Tuesday, January 9th, Governor Inslee gave his last “State of the State Address,” urging the legislature to press on with his priorities as he is not running for a fourth term. According to The Seattle Times, “Inslee touted actions on climate change, education, housing and gun safety from his administration and lawmakers.”

Education Hearings Scheduled for Next Week on TVW.org

House Education Committee

  • Monday, January 15th @ 1:30pm
  • Tuesday, January 16th @ 4pm
  • Thursday, January 18th @ 8am

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee

  • Monday, January 15th @ 1:30pm
  • Wednesday, January 17th @ 1:30pm
  • Thursday, January 18th @ 1:30pm

Important Legislative Links

Legislative Website: Get information on bills, legislators, hearings and more.

Bill Tracker: Track specific bills, read bill reports.

TVW: Watch live and archived legislative proceedings.

Note about legislative updates:

CSTP relays these legislative updates to provide information on bills, budgets and legislative processes. CSTP doesn’t have a legislative agenda, but does track legislative issues most relevant to teaching.

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. The bill has passed the House Chamber.

E2SHB 1479: which concerns restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs (hearing time: 18:33 and 40:26). Testifying in support: representatives from the SCPTSA, Team Child, OSPI and several concerned citizens,  Testifying in opposition: representatives from WABA. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the Rural Ed Center and the School Alliance.

HB 1608: which would expand access to anaphylaxis medications in schools (hearing time: 3:42). Testifying in support: representatives from the Arlington SD, the Wenatchee SD, the Moses Lake SD and a concerned citizen. 

HB 1897 and SB 5809: which concerns enrichment funding for charter public schools.

HB 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). Testifying in support: representatives from Team Child and WSIPC. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the Chehalis SD, The Arc of King County, OEO, and OSPI.

HB 1915: and SB 5819: 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.

HB 1922: which would establish a grant program for the purchase and installation of vape detectors in public schools.

HB 1923: which relates to adjusting funds for special education enrollment. 

HB 1935: which promotes resource conservation practices that include student education and leadership opportunities in public schools.

HB 1938: which aims to increase the accessibility of academic re-engagement opportunities for eligible students.

HB 1944: which would establish a running start for the trades grant program.

HB 1960 and SB 5882: which would improve individualized support for student learning and behavioral needs by providing funds for additional staffing of paraprofessionals in both instructional and non-instructional roles.

HB 1985: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

HB 2005: which relates to standardizing weighted grade point averages on high school transcripts.

HB 2018: which aims to improve student outcomes by restricting mobile device use by public school students.

HB 2029: which concerns opioid overdose reversal medication in high schools.

HB 2037 and SB 5819: which concerns the requirement of Holocaust and genocide education in public schools.

HB 2038: which concerns data collection on student transfers and withdrawals from public schools and school districts (hearing time: 1:18:20). Testifying in support: representatives from WSIPC. Testifying in opposition: a concerned citizen. Testifying as “other:” representatives from the WEA, WHO and OSPI.

HB 2053: which would establish the ninth grade success program across Washington State.

HB 2058 and SB 5964: which would increase student access to free meals served at public schools (hearing time: 31:24 and 1:04:15). Testifying in support: representatives from WSSDA, WEA, OSPI, WCAAP, Food Lifeline, and Save the Children Action Network. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Washington State Policy Center.

HB 2077: which concerns participation in the Washington guaranteed admissions program.

HB 2078: which aims to improve school safety by increasing penalties for interference, intimidation by threat or force, or violence at schools and school-related athletic activities.

HB 2121: which concerns the burden of proof for special education due process hearings.

HB 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. 

HB 2142: which would create and fund a reading coaches grant program.

HB 2146 and SB 5850: which aims to support students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.

HB 2280: which would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.

HB 2282: which would direct OSPI to ​​identify African American studies curricula for students in grades seven through 12.

HB 2284: which would require public schools to incorporate evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for elementary students. 

SB 5804: which would require school districts to maintain at least one set of opioid reversal medication doses within each high school.

SB 5809: which concerns enrichment funding for charter schools (hearing time: 1:05:54). Testifying in support: representatives from Why Not You Academy, Rainier Valley Leadership Academy and Pride Schools. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the WEA.

SB 5819: which would make financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education. 

SB 5850: which aims to support students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.

SB 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). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, the Evergreen, Spokane, and Vancouver Public Schools, the WEA, PSE, NASW of WA, WSPTA, the Rural Ed Center, South Sound School Districts, the Northshore Education Assoc, a concerned citizen and WSSDA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Washington Policy Center, Conservative Ladies of WA and a concerned citizen. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WAESN.

SB 5923 and HB 1956: which would address fentanyl and other substance use prevention education.

SB 6045: which would work to develop a comprehensive state-wide initiative regarding school district efficiencies and consolidation.

SB 6049:  which would establish a grant program aimed at providing tutoring interventions, extended learning programs, and summer school programs for the greatest learning recovery needs.

SB 6082: which aims to increase compensation for Washington paraeducators.

SB 6123: which would require the adjustments of classified school employee salaries to  align with staffing costs for the state’s program of basic education.

Odds and Ends

Academic Burnout is Real and Preventable. From OSPI’s Student Stories Program, one Lake Stevens’ student tells her own story.

This week from The Seattle Times, WA Legislature Kicks Off Short Session with Optimism.

2024 Pre-Session Legislative Update

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Happy New Year! We are back in action and ready for the start of the 2024 Washington State Legislative Session. Session will officially begin on Monday, January 8th. Washington State’s legislative cycles are two years in length and within that cycle there are two types of sessions: regular and short. 2024 will be a short session, lasting roughly 60 days, as opposed to the 2023 session that lasted 105 days. With shorter sessions, it helps to keep in mind that bills introduced in year one of a legislative cycle remain alive and carryover into year two of that legislative cycle. That being said, it is very likely that we will see some new discussion around bills that were introduced last session. 

In shorter sessions, the legislature’s main focus is to pass the current biennium’s supplemental capital, operational, and transportation budgets. In mid-December, Governor Inslee released a proposed $70.9 billion dollar state supplemental budget, which on the education front, includes a budget plan to boost wages for paraeducators by $3.00 per hour. Inslee said that would bring a pay bump for roughly 32,000 education workers working in that role. 

According to The Seattle Times, in addition to the proposed wage increase for paraeducators, also known as teachers’ aides, Governor Inslee wants to increase the money Washington school districts get for special education. Inslee has proposed putting additional money toward constructing K-12 schools using new revenues from the capital gains tax.

In December, Washington lawmakers begin pre filing bills for the upcoming session. Among them are quite a few education-related bills that prove timely and show promise. HB 2018, which aims to restrict the use of cell phones in public school classrooms, is likely to be a bill worth following. The Seattle Times reported that some states, like California, Tennessee, and more recently, Florida, have passed legislation allowing schools to restrict or prohibit the use of cell phones in schools, but that Washington has not passed legislation on the matter.

-Samantha Miller

Important Legislative Links

Legislative Website: Get information on bills, legislators, hearings and more.

Bill Tracker: Track specific bills, read bill reports.

TVW: Watch live and archived legislative proceedings.

Note about legislative updates:

CSTP relays these legislative updates to provide information on bills, budgets and legislative processes. CSTP doesn’t have a legislative agenda, but does track legislative issues most relevant to teaching.

Pre-Filled Bills

HB 1897 and SB 5809: which concerns enrichment funding for charter public schools.

HB 1914: which aims to improve the education of students with varying abilities by enhancing special education services.

HB 1915: and SB 5819: 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.

HB 1922: which would establish a grant program for the purchase and installation of vape detectors in public schools.

HB 1923: which relates to adjusting funds for special education enrollment. 

HB 1935: which promotes resource conservation practices that include student education and leadership opportunities in public schools.

HB 1944: which would establish a running start for the trades grant program.

HB 1956: which aims to address and provide additional education relating to fentanyl and other substance use prevention in public schools.

HB 1960 and SB 5882: which would improve individualized support for student learning and behavioral needs by providing funds for additional staffing of paraprofessionals in both instructional and non-instructional roles.

HB 1985: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

HB 2005: which relates to standardizing weighted grade point averages on high school transcripts.

HB 2017: which addresses school districts with aged facilities and a history of capital bond failure.

HB 2018: which aims to improve student outcomes by restricting mobile device use by public school students.

HB 2029: which concerns opioid overdose reversal medication in high schools.

HB 2037: which concerns the requirement of Holocaust and genocide education in public schools.

HB 2038: which concerns data collection on student transfers and withdrawals from public schools and school districts.

HB 2053: which would establish the ninth grade success program across Washington State.

HB 2058: which would increase student access to free meals served at public schools.

 HB 2078: which aims to improve school safety by increasing penalties for interference, intimidation by threat or force, or violence at schools and school-related athletic activities.

HB 2110: which would reorganize statutory requirements governing high school graduation.

SB 5804: which would require school districts to maintain at least one set of opioid reversal medication doses within each high school.

 SB 5813: which would require school districts to offer instruction in agricultural literacy in grades 7-12.

SB 5819: which would make financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education.

SB 5850: which aims to support students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.

SB 5851: which addresses Holocaust and genocide education in public schools. 

SB 5903: which concerns representation in the educator preparation act.

SB 5923: which would address fentanyl and other substance use prevention education.

Odds and Ends

Is cursive handwriting having a comeback? “There’s a lot of research that shows that cursive handwriting enhances a child’s brain development, including memorization, and improves fine motor skills.” This week from The Seattle Times’ Education Team, Cursive writing was so yesterday in California, but in 2024 it’s back in class.

“Kindergarten through eighth grade students get hands-on experience with making dirt while also teaching them ways to address human-driven climate change.” From KQED’s MindShift, How to Inspire Climate Hope in Kids? Get Their Hands Dirty.

Weekly Legislative Update – April 7, 2023

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CSTP Updates

Happy Friday, Spring Break, Ramadan, Passover, and Easter as well! Phew! The session seems to be flying by and it is so packed with floor and committee action as well as the release, and debates of the budget proposals. According to the Seattle Times, “Spending on K-12 schools would account for nearly half of overall state spending for the next two years in both the House and Senate budget proposals. Legislators will have to hammer out an agreement on overall education spending and on a key area of that, special education.” Following the House budget vote earlier this week, appointed budget negotiators from both houses will continue to meet and debate on a final proposal. One of the last votes that lawmakers take this session will be on the final negotiated budget.   Tuesday, April 4, marked the fiscal committee cut-off for the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means Committees. Most education related bills made it through at the last minute, however, a few did fail to make the cut. The next cut-off comes next Wednesday, April 12, and will be the last day for lawmakers to consider and pass bills out of the opposite house. This is the last cut-off date before the end of session, Sine Die, which is scheduled for April 23.

Education Committee Hearings for Next Week on TVW.org

There are no committee meetings scheduled next week but we expect there will be a lot of floor action.

House Bills

2SHB 1013: which would require OSPI and Washington ESDs to jointly establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with one site each in Eastern and Western Washington (hearing time: 6:18). The bill is in the Rules Committee.

SHB 1015: which revises minimum employment requirements for paraeducators. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

ESHB 1057: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

HB 1146: which would require 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 Rules Committee.

SHB 1207: which aims to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools through updated policies and procedures. The bill has passed both chambers.

E2SHB 1238: which would require K-5 elementary public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to offer universal free breakfasts and lunches if up to 30% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee. 

ESHB 1277: which would establish rules to improve the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental courses of study for paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

​​HB 1308: which establishes a graduation pathway option that enables students to meet pathway requirements by completing a performance-based learning experience. The bill has passed both chambers.

2SHB 1316:  which would lower dual enrollment program costs for eligible students from $65 to $42.50 per credit by creating a subsidy program, incentivizing reduction of per college credit fees charged to college in the high school students, and revising eligibility for the Running Start (RS) program tuition fee waiver. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1332: which would require all school districts to incorporate a tribal sovereignty curriculum into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2023, as well as require districts to consult with the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe(s) about incorporating materials about their history, culture, and government into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2025. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1377:  which would require the posting of approved courses and providers of continuing education. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee. 

ESHB 1436: which would increase the enrollment limit for special education funding over several years until the 2027-28 school year, when the limit is removed, and would increase special education excess cost multipliers for kindergarten through age 21 over four school years to 1.059 for students who spend at least 80 percent of the school day in a general education setting. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1550: which would establish the transition to kindergarten program to provide no-charge assistance to eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

HB 1622: which aims to support the needs of students experiencing homelessness by aligning program goals, establishing common reporting requirements, and establishing examples of permitted expenditures for the OSPI program. The bill has passed both chambers.

SHB 1658:which would authorize high school students aged 16 and above to earn up to two elective credits through paid work experience if approval and alignment with the student’s High School and Beyond Plan are met. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1701: which concerns basic education services to youth who are served through institutional education programs. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5019: which removes “classified staff providing student and staff safety” from the definition of physical, social, and emotional support staff and the specific funding considerations for that group. The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SSB 5048: which would require colleges to provide enrollment and registration in College in the High School (CHS) courses at no cost to students in grades 9-12 at public high schools, and would require the legislature to appropriate funds to fund CHS courses, at inflation-adjusted rates. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5072: which would establish new requirements for identifying students who may be eligible for highly capable services, including conducting universal screenings once in or before second grade, and again before sixth grade.The bill has passed both chambers.

SSB 5127: which would clarifyschool districts’ ability to redact personal information related to a student. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5174: which would modify the student transportation allocation formula and expand the definition of “to and from school” to include the transportation of students participating in career connected and work based learning opportunities. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESB 5175: which would allow employment contracts between a school board and principal to be up to three years in length, as opposed to limited to a term of one year. The bill has passed both chambers.

E2SSB 5243: which revises high school and beyond plan (HSBP) requirements, and would require OSPI to facilitate the transition and adoption of a common online platform for HSBPs. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5257: which would ensure that public schools provide daily recess for all elementary students with a minimum of 45 minutes when the school day is longer than five hours and a minimum of 30 minutes when the school day is shorter, as well as prohibit schools from withholding recess as a punitive action. The bill has passed both chambers.

E2SSB 5311: which would increase the special education excess cost multipliers for pre-K and K12 students over a four-year period and increase the special education enrollment funding cap from 13.5 percent to 14.5 percent. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5315: which would require OSPI to establish standards for approval, monitoring, and investigating school district contracts with nonpublic agencies (NPAs) operating special education programs for students with disabilities, and requires that restraint and isolation procedures and notification requirements apply to NPAS. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESB 5355: which requires school districts to provide instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification at least once between grades 7 and 12 beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5617: which would require interdistrict cooperative agreements in a skill center to stipulate that any course equivalencies approved by OSPI or a host district must be honored by other participating school districts. The bill has passed both chambers. 

ESB 5650: which concerns salary inflationary increases for K-12 employees. The bill has been delivered to the governor awaiting signature. 

Odds and Ends

“In Washington, housing is one of the clearest predictors of whether a student might face suspension or expulsion from school.” On April 12, Project Homeless is hosting a discussion about some of the challenges homeless students face, as well as solutions. Read more on this and how you can join in or offer help, from the Seattle Times, What Do You Want To Know About K-12 Student Homelessness?

“Last month, education leaders from Utah, California, and Maryland visited three Washington schools to learn strategies for inclusive education to take back to their states,” read more from OSPI: Washington Schools Serve as Model for Inclusionary Practices.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2023 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 31, 2023

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CSTP Updates

There is just one month left in the 2023 Legislative Session, and this week lawmakers were desperately trying to get last minute bills passed out of committee before Wednesday’s deadline, as well as working behind the scenes crafting this year’s budget. Wednesday marked the last day for bills to pass out of policy committees in the opposite house, except for fiscal committees. The House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means Committees have until Tuesday, April 4, to move bills out.

Last Friday, the State Supreme Court upheld the capital gains tax, reversing the previous superior court order. This means that the revenue raised by this tax can be assumed in our state’s next two-year budget, which comes as a relief to many lawmakers during this budget-drafting crunch time.  While we are on the topic of budgets, Senate Democrats released their budget proposal late last week, and according to NPR, “The operating budget that Senate lawmakers released includes about $5 billion in new spending, and almost $3 billion of that would be for education, for things like teacher salaries, special education funding.” The House Democrats released their budget proposal Monday afternoon, and Crosscut reports, “The proposed House budget would spend nearly $70 billion over the next two years, an increase from the $59 billion budget plan approved two years ago. Among other things, it would expand the number of K-12 schools providing free breakfast and put $172 million toward boosting special education in K-12 schools. Now that both the house and senate have released their proposals, lawmakers will need to sit down to figure out a compromise by April 23, the end of the session. 

Education Committee Hearings for Next Week on TVW.org

House Appropriations Committee

  • Monday, April 3 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4 at 9:00 a.m.

Senate Ways & Means Education Committee

  • Monday, April 3 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m.

House Bills

2SHB 1013: which would require OSPI and Washington ESDs to jointly establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with one site each in Eastern and Western Washington (hearing time: 6:18). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SHB 1015: which revises minimum employment requirements for paraeducators. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

ESHB 1057: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1109: which would provide additional special education funding to school districts in order to increase initial evaluations during summers. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HB 1146: which would require 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 Rules Committee.

SHB 1207: which aims to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools through updated policies and procedures. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1238: which would require K-5 elementary public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to offer universal free breakfasts and lunches if up to 30% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

ESHB 1277: which would establish rules to improve the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental courses of study for paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

​​HB 1308: which establishes a graduation pathway option that enables students to meet pathway requirements by completing a performance-based learning experience. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1316: which would lower dual enrollment program costs for eligible students from $65 to $42.50 per credit by creating a subsidy program, incentivizing reduction of per college credit fees charged to college in the high school students, and revising eligibility for the Running Start (RS) program tuition fee waiver. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

2SHB 1332: which would require all school districts to incorporate a tribal sovereignty curriculum into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2023, as well as require districts to consult with the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe(s) about incorporating materials about their history, culture, and government into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2025. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 1377: which would require the posting of approved courses and providers of continuing education. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

ESHB 1436: which would increase the enrollment limit for special education funding over several years until the 2027-28 school year, when the limit is removed, and would increase special education excess cost multipliers for kindergarten through age 21 over four school years to 1.059 for students who spend at least 80 percent of the school day in a general education setting. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HB 1478: which establishes a statement of student rights for public schools and requires public schools to develop student-focused educational and promotional materials that incorporate the statement and to include the materials into required civics instruction. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1550: which would establish the transition to kindergarten program to provide no-charge assistance to eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

2SHB 1565: which requires the development of an online platform for the recruitment and hiring of public school employees and establishes a teacher residency program. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HB 1622: which aims to support the needs of students experiencing homelessness by aligning program goals, establishing common reporting requirements, and establishing examples of permitted expenditures for the OSPI program. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1658: which would authorize high school students aged 16 and above to earn up to two elective credits through paid work experience if approval and alignment with the student’s High School and Beyond Plan are met. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1701: which concerns basic education services to youth who are served through institutional education programs. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5019: which removes “classified staff providing student and staff safety” from the definition of physical, social, and emotional support staff and the specific funding considerations for that group. The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SSB 5048: which would require colleges to provide enrollment and registration in College in the High School (CHS) courses at no cost to students in grades 9-12 at public high schools, and would require the legislature to appropriate funds to fund CHS courses, at inflation-adjusted rates. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5072: which would establish new requirements for identifying students who may be eligible for highly capable services, including conducting universal screenings once in or before second grade, and again before sixth grade. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5102: which requires school districts and school boards to provide every student with access to school library information and technology programs. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5127: which would clarifyschool districts’ ability to redact personal information related to a student. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5174: which would modify the student transportation allocation formula and expand the definition of “to and from school” to include the transportation of students participating in career connected and work based learning opportunities. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESB 5175: which would allow employment contracts between a school board and principal to be up to three years in length, as opposed to limited to a term of one year. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5243: which revises high school and beyond plan (HSBP) requirements, and would require OSPI to facilitate the transition and adoption of a common online platform for HSBPs. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESSB 5257:which would ensure that public schools provide daily recess for all elementary students with a minimum of 45 minutes when the school day is longer than five hours and a minimum of 30 minutes when the school day is shorter, as well as prohibit schools from withholding recess as a punitive action. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5311: which would increase the special education excess cost multipliers for pre-K and K12 students over a four-year period and increase the special education enrollment funding cap from 13.5 percent to 14.5 percent. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

E2SSB 5315: which would require OSPI to establish standards for approval, monitoring, and investigating school district contracts with nonpublic agencies (NPAs) operating special education programs for students with disabilities, and requires that restraint and isolation procedures and notification requirements apply to NPAS. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESB 5355: which requires school districts to provide instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification at least once between grades 7 and 12 beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

SSB 5617: which would require interdistrict cooperative agreements in a skill center to stipulate that any course equivalencies approved by OSPI or a host district must be honored by other participating school districts. The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SSB 5626: which requires OSPI to establish a grant program for expanding the capability of school districts to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into public school instruction. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESB 5650: which concerns salary inflationary increases for K-12 employees. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President.

Odds and Ends

“Called “un-grading,” the idea is meant to ease the transition to higher education…” This week from NPR Ed, To Help New Students Adapt, Some Colleges are Eliminating Grades.

“I provide my students with examples from their real world that show they need a basic understanding of the science to comprehend the things taking place around them every day,” from MindShift this week, How Science Class Can Help Students Explore Inequities in Their Communities.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2023 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 24, 2023

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CSTP Updates

Happy Friday! Here we are with just a month left of the 2023 Legislative Session. Sine Die, the last day of session, is scheduled for April 23, and it will be here before we know it. This week, lawmakers were busy holding committee hearings with packed agendas, including public testimony on a number of bills as well as caucusing and holding executive sessions. These last few days before the final policy committee cut-off, March 29, can seem like a whirlwind on the hill. 

March’s revenue forecast was released on Monday the 20th, and the updated financial predictions come at a time when legislators are working to draft a new two-year budget. “Washington’s state operating budget is the spending plan that doles out dollars to the state’s schools, parks, prisons, public lands and social services, such as the foster care and mental health programs” reports Crosscut this week. Senate Democrats are scheduled to release their proposed two-year budget plan late this week, according to a spokesperson for the caucus. House Democrats could release their proposed spending blueprint as early as next week.

Education Committee Hearings for Next Week on TVW.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 27 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 28 at 4:00 p.m.

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 27 at 1:30 p.m.

House Bills

2SHB 1013: which would require OSPI and Washington ESDs to jointly establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with one site each in Eastern and Western Washington (hearing time: 6:18). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SHB 1015: which revises minimum employment requirements for paraeducators (hearing time: 5:39). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1057: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1109: which would provide additional special education funding to school districts in order to increase initial evaluations during summers (hearing time: 1:17). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SHB 1113: which would require the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands issued to certificated professional educators (hearing time: 20:08). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1146: which would require schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance (hearing time: 00:38). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1207: which aims to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools through updated policies and procedures (hearing time: 5:51). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1238: which would require K-5 elementary public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to offer universal free breakfasts and lunches if up to 30% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch (hearing time: 1:15). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

ESHB 1277: which would establish rules to improve the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental courses of study for paraeducators (hearing time: 00:29). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

​​HB 1308: which establishes a graduation pathway option that enables students to meet pathway requirements by completing a performance-based learning experience (hearing time: 0:57). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1316: which would lower dual enrollment program costs for eligible students from $65 to $42.50 per credit by creating a subsidy program, incentivizing reduction of per college credit fees charged to college in the high school students, and revising eligibility for the Running Start (RS) program tuition fee waiver (hearing time: 14:49). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

2SHB 1332: which would require all school districts to incorporate a tribal sovereignty curriculum into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2023, as well as require districts to consult with the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe(s) about incorporating materials about their history, culture, and government into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2025 (hearing time: 26:26). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

ESHB 1377: which would require the posting of approved courses and providers of continuing education (hearing time: 11:30). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

ESHB 1436: which would increase the enrollment limit for special education funding over several years until the 2027-28 school year, when the limit is removed, and would increase special education excess cost multipliers for kindergarten through age 21 over four school years to 1.059 for students who spend at least 80 percent of the school day in a general education setting (hearing time: 23:37). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1478: which establishes a statement of student rights for public schools and requires public schools to develop student-focused educational and promotional materials that incorporate the statement and to include the materials into required civics instruction (hearing time: 13:16). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

2SHB 1479: which would prohibit students from being subjected to isolation, mechanical restraint, or chemical restraint by school staff, except for school resource officers under some circumstances, and specifies that existing isolation rooms must remain unlocked, and no new isolation rooms may be created, and, by January 1, 2024, isolation rooms must be removed or repurposed (hearing time: 23:17).  This issue of student restraint in Vancouver Public Schools received press this week in this article from Crosscut. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. 

SHB 1504: which requires public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to provide daily recess for all students in kindergarten through grade 5, and grade 6 if the students attend an elementary school. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1550: which would establish the transition to kindergarten program to provide no-charge assistance to eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year (hearing time: 29:45). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1565: which requires the development of an online platform for the recruitment and hiring of public school employees and establishes a teacher residency program (hearing time: 26:57). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HB 1622: which aims to support the needs of students experiencing homelessness by aligning program goals, establishing common reporting requirements, and establishing examples of permitted expenditures for the OSPI program (hearing time: 14:38). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1658: which would authorize high school students aged 16 and above to earn up to two elective credits through paid work experience if approval and alignment with the student’s High School and Beyond Plan are met (hearing time: 1:19). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1701: which concerns basic education services to youth who are served through institutional education programs (hearing time: 18:52). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5019: which removes “classified staff providing student and staff safety” from the definition of physical, social, and emotional support staff and the specific funding considerations for that group (hearing time: 1:37). The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SSB 5048: which would require colleges to provide enrollment and registration in College in the High School (CHS) courses at no cost to students in grades 9-12 at public high schools, and would require the legislature to appropriate funds to fund CHS courses, at inflation-adjusted rates. The bill is in the Senate Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee.

SSB 5054: which would modify instructional hours to include time students spend in educational activities under the supervision of non-certificated staff while teachers participate in professional learning communities (PLCs) as well as encourage school districts to adopt a school calendar that includes at least four hours per week for teachers to engage in PLCs during the school day (hearing time: 46:09). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5072: which would establish new requirements for identifying students who may be eligible for highly capable services, including conducting universal screenings once in or before second grade, and again before sixth grade. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

ESSB 5102: which requires school districts and school boards to provide every student with access to school library information and technology programs (hearing time: 00:46). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5127: which would clarify school districts’ ability to redact personal information related to a student. The bill is in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.

E2SSB 5174: which would modify the student transportation allocation formula and expand the definition of “to and from school” to include the transportation of students participating in career connected and work based learning opportunities. The bill has passed out of the House Appropriations Committee.

ESB 5175: which would allow employment contracts between a school board and principal to be up to three years in length, as opposed to limited to a term of one year (hearing time: 12:09). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5180: which aims to support the retention of teachers by removing barriers to licensure and creating a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility (hearing time: 17:42). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5243: which revises high school and beyond plan (HSBP) requirements, and would require OSPI to facilitate the transition and adoption of a common online platform for HSBPs (hearing time: 25:40). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5257: which would ensure that public schools provide daily recess for all elementary students with a minimum of 45 minutes when the school day is longer than five hours and a minimum of 30 minutes when the school day is shorter, as well as prohibit schools from withholding recess as a punitive action. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5311: which would increase the special education excess cost multipliers for pre-K and K12 students over a four-year period and increase the special education enrollment funding cap from 13.5 percent to 14.5 percent (hearing time: 1:12). The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

E2SSB 5315: which would require OSPI to establish standards for approval, monitoring, and investigating school district contracts with nonpublic agencies (NPAs) operating special education programs for students with disabilities, and requires that restraint and isolation procedures and notification requirements apply to NPAS (hearing time: 3:25). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5355: which requires school districts to provide instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification at least once between grades 7 and 12 beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5462: which would direct OSPI to review and update relevant state learning standards at all grade levels to include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of LGBTQ people, and historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, by December 1, 2024 (hearing time: 38:31). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5617: which would require interdistrict cooperative agreements in a skill center to stipulate that any course equivalencies approved by OSPI or a host district must be honored by other participating school districts (hearing time: 17:25). The bill is in the House Rules Committee. 

SSB 5626: which requires OSPI to establish a grant program for expanding the capability of school districts to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into public school instruction (hearing time: 20:28). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5650: which concerns salary inflationary increases for K-12 employees. The bill has passed out of the House Appropriations Committee.

Odds and Ends:

“I love how my Black students, in particular, can’t tell the difference between my African American studies class and my American history class…” This week from MindShift, Illinois Teachers Create Black History Courses to Fill in Gaps in US History for Students.

This week from NPR Education, What We Do (and Don’t) Know About Teacher Shortages, and What Can Be Done About Them.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2023 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 17, 2023

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

CSTP Updates

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! This week lawmakers were back in committees, holding public hearings and executive sessions on bills from the opposite house. After last week’s origin cut-off, legislators find themselves on the downhill side of the legislative session, where the number of bills that remain alive is more manageable, and the amount of time between cut-off dates is shorter. March 29 is the next cut-off, and all bills will need to be passed out of committee, except for fiscal, in the opposite house.

At this point of the session, we are also expecting to hear details from lawmakers regarding budget proposals: Operations, Capital and Transportation. Budget negotiations occur largely behind closed doors, but we will be sure and update budget information as we learn it. Last Thursday, Governor Inslee held a media conference at the state capitol, referencing budget hopes and proposals and highlighting his priorities for 2023-2025 as well. 

Education Committee Hearings for Next Week on TVW.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 21 at 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 23 at 8:00 a.m

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m.

House Bills

2SHB 1013: which would require OSPI and Washington ESDs to jointly establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with one site each in Eastern and Western Washington (hearing time: 6:18). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1015: which revises minimum employment requirements for paraeducators (hearing time: 5:39). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

ESHB 1057: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

SHB 1109: which would provide additional special education funding to school districts in order to increase initial evaluations during summers (hearing time: 1:17). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and scheduled for executive session on March 20.

SHB 1113: which would require the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands issued to certificated professional educators (hearing time: 20:08). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1146: which would require 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 & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1207: which aims to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools through updated policies and procedures. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1238: which would require K-5 elementary public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to offer universal free breakfasts and lunches if up to 30% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch (hearing time: 1:15). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. 

ESHB 1277: which would establish rules to improve the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental courses of study for paraeducators (hearing time: 00:37). The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.

​​HB 1308: which establishes a graduation pathway option that enables students to meet pathway requirements by completing a performance-based learning experience (hearing time: 1:14). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1316: which would lower dual enrollment program costs for eligible students from $65 to $42.50 per credit by creating a subsidy program, incentivizing reduction of per college credit fees charged to college in the high school students, and revising eligibility for the Running Start (RS) program tuition fee waiver (hearing time: 15:17). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1332: which would require all school districts to incorporate a tribal sovereignty curriculum into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2023, as well as require districts to consult with the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe(s) about incorporating materials about their history, culture, and government into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2025 (hearing time: 26:26). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

ESHB 1377: which would require the posting of approved courses and providers of continuing education (hearing time: 11:30). The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

ESHB 1436: which would increase the enrollment limit for special education funding over several years until the 2027-28 school year, when the limit is removed, and would increase special education excess cost multipliers for kindergarten through age 21 over four school years to 1.059 for students who spend at least 80 percent of the school day in a general education setting (hearing time: 23:37). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1478: which establishes a statement of student rights for public schools and requires public schools to develop student-focused educational and promotional materials that incorporate the statement and to include the materials into required civics instruction. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1479: which would prohibit students from being subjected to isolation, mechanical restraint, or chemical restraint by school staff, except for school resource officers under some circumstances, and specifies that existing isolation rooms must remain unlocked, and no new isolation rooms may be created, and, by January 1, 2024, isolation rooms must be removed or repurposed. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1504: which requires public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to provide daily recess for all students in kindergarten through grade 5, and grade 6 if the students attend an elementary school. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1550: which would establish the transition to kindergarten program to provide no-charge assistance to eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1565: which requires the development of an online platform for the recruitment and hiring of public school employees and establishes a teacher residency program (hearing time: 26:57). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1622: which aims to support the needs of students experiencing homelessness by aligning program goals, establishing common reporting requirements, and establishing examples of permitted expenditures for the OSPI program (hearing time: 14:38). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1658: which would authorize high school students aged 16 and above to earn up to two elective credits through paid work experience if approval and alignment with the student’s High School and Beyond Plan are met. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1701: which concerns basic education services to youth who are served through institutional education programs (hearing time: 18:52). The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5019: which removes “classified staff providing student and staff safety” from the definition of physical, social, and emotional support staff and the specific funding considerations for that group (hearing time: 1:37). The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee. 

SSB 5048: which would require colleges to provide enrollment and registration in College in the High School (CHS) courses at no cost to students in grades 9-12 at public high schools, and would require the legislature to appropriate funds to fund CHS courses, at inflation-adjusted rates. The bill is in the Senate Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee.

SSB 5054: which would modify instructional hours to include time students spend in educational activities under the supervision of non-certificated staff while teachers participate in professional learning communities (PLCs) as well as encourage school districts to adopt a school calendar that includes at least four hours per week for teachers to engage in PLCs during the school day (hearing time: 46:09). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5072: which would establish new requirements for identifying students who may be eligible for highly capable services, including conducting universal screenings once in or before second grade, and again before sixth grade. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

SSB 5102: which requires school districts and school boards to provide every student with access to school library information and technology programs. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5127: which would clarifyschool districts’ ability to redact personal information related to a student. The bill is in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.

E2SSB 5174: which would modify the student transportation allocation formula and expand the definition of “to and from school” to include the transportation of students participating in career connected and work based learning opportunities. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESB 5175: which would allow employment contracts between a school board and principal to be up to three years in length, as opposed to limited to a term of one year. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SB 5180: which aims to support the retention of teachers by removing barriers to licensure and creating a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5243: which revises high school and beyond plan (HSBP) requirements, and would require OSPI to facilitate the transition and adoption of a common online platform for HSBPs (hearing time: 25:40). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5257:which would ensure that public schools provide daily recess for all elementary students with a minimum of 45 minutes when the school day is longer than five hours and a minimum of 30 minutes when the school day is shorter, as well as prohibit schools from withholding recess as a punitive action. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

E2SSB 5311: which would increase the special education excess cost multipliers for pre-K and K12 students over a four-year period and increase the special education enrollment funding cap from 13.5 percent to 14.5 percent (hearing time: 1:12). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5315: which would require OSPI to establish standards for approval, monitoring, and investigating school district contracts with nonpublic agencies (NPAs) operating special education programs for students with disabilities, and requires that restraint and isolation procedures and notification requirements apply to NPAS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5355: which requires school districts to provide instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification at least once between grades 7 and 12 beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5462: which would direct OSPI to review and update relevant state learning standards at all grade levels to include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of LGBTQ people, and historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, by December 1, 2024 (hearing time: 38:31). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5617: which would require interdistrict cooperative agreements in a skill center to stipulate that any course equivalencies approved by OSPI or a host district must be honored by other participating school districts (hearing time: 17:25). The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee. 

SSB 5626: which requires OSPI to establish a grant program for expanding the capability of school districts to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into public school instruction (hearing time: 20:03). The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5650: which concerns salary inflationary increases for K-12 employees. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

Odds and Ends:

Is our society going through “a huge transition,” as the allure of a college degree is starting to fade? This week from The Seattle Times, WA College-Going Rate Dropped Sharply During Pandemic.

“In Washington state, more teachers left the classroom after last school year than at any point in the last three decades…” From MindShift, Teacher Turnover Hits New Highs Across the US.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2023 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 10, 2023

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

CSTP Updates

Happy Friday! We are halfway through this year’s 105-day legislative session, and the pace has not appeared to slow one bit. Wednesday, March 8, was the last day for bills to be passed out of their house of origin, and there were several bills that got stuck in their respective Rules Committees and did not make it out. Over the last two weeks, lawmakers have spent the majority of their time on the floor of their respective houses, making last minute amendments to bills in order to keep them alive and passing them off their floor. Next week the focus will shift back to the committees, where public hearings and executive sessions will be taking place at rapid speed in order for members to pass bills out of committee in the opposite house by March 29. 

On Tuesday, the Washington State Board of Education (SBE) released a press statement, to again highlight HB 1308, which would add a performance based pathway to graduation, and all the legislative work that has gone on behind the scenes to keep this bill alive. HB 1308 currently sits with the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and will need to be heard and voted on by March 29 in order to move forward.

Education Committee Hearings for Next Week on TVW.org

House Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 13 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 14 at 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m.

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

  • Monday, March 13 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 15 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 16 at 1:30 p.m.

House Bills

2SHB 1013: which would require OSPI and Washington ESDs to jointly establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with one site each in Eastern and Western Washington. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1015: which revises minimum employment requirements for paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

ESHB 1057: which would provide a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. The bill is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SHB 1109: which would provide additional special education funding to school districts in order to increase initial evaluations during summers. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1113: which would require the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands issued to certificated professional educators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1146: which would require 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 & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1207: which aims to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools through updated policies and procedures. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1238: which would require K-5 elementary public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to offer universal free breakfasts and lunches if up to 30% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

ESHB 1277: which would establish rules to improve the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental courses of study for paraeducators. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

​​HB 1308: which establishes a graduation pathway option that enables students to meet pathway requirements by completing a performance-based learning experience. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1316: which would lower dual enrollment program costs for eligible students from $65 to $42.50 per credit by creating a subsidy program, incentivizing reduction of per college credit fees charged to college in the high school students, and revising eligibility for the Running Start (RS) program tuition fee waiver. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1332: which would require all school districts to incorporate a tribal sovereignty curriculum into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2023, as well as require districts to consult with the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe(s) about incorporating materials about their history, culture, and government into their social studies curricula by September 1, 2025. The bill has passed the House Chamber. 

ESHB 1377: which would require the posting of approved courses and providers of continuing education. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

ESHB 1436: which would increase the enrollment limit for special education funding over several years until the 2027-28 school year, when the limit is removed, and would increase special education excess cost multipliers for kindergarten through age 21 over four school years to 1.059 for students who spend at least 80 percent of the school day in a general education setting. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1478: which establishes a statement of student rights for public schools and requires public schools to develop student-focused educational and promotional materials that incorporate the statement and to include the materials into required civics instruction. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1479: which would prohibit students from being subjected to isolation, mechanical restraint, or chemical restraint by school staff, except for school resource officers under some circumstances, and specifies that existing isolation rooms must remain unlocked, and no new isolation rooms may be created, and, by January 1, 2024, isolation rooms must be removed or repurposed. The bill has passed the House Chamber.

SHB 1504: which requires public schools, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, to provide daily recess for all students in kindergarten through grade 5, and grade 6 if the students attend an elementary school. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2HB 1550: which would establish the transition to kindergarten program to provide no-charge assistance to eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

2SHB 1565: which requires the development of an online platform for the recruitment and hiring of public school employees and establishes a teacher residency program. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

HB 1622: which aims to support the needs of students experiencing homelessness by aligning program goals, establishing common reporting requirements, and establishing examples of permitted expenditures for the OSPI program. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1658: which would authorize high school students aged 16 and above to earn up to two elective credits through paid work experience if approval and alignment with the student’s High School and Beyond Plan are met. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

SHB 1701: which concerns basic education services to youth who are served through institutional education programs. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 5019: which removes “classified staff providing student and staff safety” from the definition of physical, social, and emotional support staff and the specific funding considerations for that group (hearing time: 1:37). The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SSB 5048: which would require colleges to provide enrollment and registration in College in the High School (CHS) courses at no cost to students in grades 9-12 at public high schools, and would require the legislature to appropriate funds to fund CHS courses, at inflation-adjusted rates. The bill has passed the Senate Chamber.

SSB 5054: which would modify instructional hours to include time students spend in educational activities under the supervision of non-certificated staff while teachers participate in professional learning communities (PLCs) as well as encourage school districts to adopt a school calendar that includes at least four hours per week for teachers to engage in PLCs during the school day. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5072: which would establish new requirements for identifying students who may be eligible for highly capable services, including conducting universal screenings once in or before second grade, and again before sixth grade. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

SSB 5102: which requires school districts and school boards to provide every student with access to school library information and technology programs. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5127: which would clarifyschool districts’ ability to redact personal information related to a student. The bill is in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.

E2SSB 5174: which would modify the student transportation allocation formula and expand the definition of “to and from school” to include the transportation of students participating in career connected and work based learning opportunities. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

ESB 5175: which would allow employment contracts between a school board and principal to be up to three years in length, as opposed to limited to a term of one year. The bill has passed the Senate Chamber.

SB 5180: which aims to support the retention of teachers by removing barriers to licensure and creating a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5243: which revises high school and beyond plan (HSBP) requirements, and would require OSPI to facilitate the transition and adoption of a common online platform for HSBPs. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESSB 5257:which would ensure that public schools provide daily recess for all elementary students with a minimum of 45 minutes when the school day is longer than five hours and a minimum of 30 minutes when the school day is shorter, as well as prohibit schools from withholding recess as a punitive action. The bill has passed out of the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5311: which would increase the special education excess cost multipliers for pre-K and K12 students over a four-year period and increase the special education enrollment funding cap from 13.5 percent to 14.5 percent. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

E2SSB 5315: which would require OSPI to establish standards for approval, monitoring, and investigating school district contracts with nonpublic agencies (NPAs) operating special education programs for students with disabilities, and requires that restraint and isolation procedures and notification requirements apply to NPAS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5355: which requires school districts to provide instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification at least once between grades 7 and 12 beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5462: which would direct OSPI to review and update relevant state learning standards at all grade levels to include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of LGBTQ people, and historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, by December 1, 2024. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

SSB 5617: which would require interdistrict cooperative agreements in a skill center to stipulate that any course equivalencies approved by OSPI or a host district must be honored by other participating school districts (hearing time: 17:25). The bill is in the House Education Committee. 

SSB 5626: which requires OSPI to establish a grant program for expanding the capability of school districts to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into public school instruction. The bill is in the House Education Committee.

ESB 5650: which concerns salary inflationary increases for K-12 employees. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.

Odds and Ends:

“When students engage in mildly disruptive behavior, teachers can try asking open questions instead of immediately confronting the behavior.” Last week from Edutopia, Using Curiosity as a Way to Diffuse Power Struggles.  Including this story from NPR because it is a great reminder that when kids dream big and adults buy in, great things can happen. These Students Raised Hundreds of Thousands to Make Their Playground Accessible.

Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2023 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.