CSTP Updates:
February 6: Zooming In & Out on Inclusionary Practices Dr. Katie Novak and Dr. Shellie Moore
Odds and Ends
From the Seattle Times’ Education Lab, Meet the 2023 Student Voices writers. For the seventh year in a row, eight Washington teens and young adults are chosen to share their experiences and make suggestions on how schools can better support students in our state.
“How do we make students feel empowered? We lift up stories and information that include all people…” From MindShift, Everyone is Welcome: Making School Libraries Culturally Relevant for all Students.
From the Seattle Times’ Education Lab, Meet the 2023 Student Voices writers. For the seventh year in a row, eight Washington teens and young adults are chosen to share their experiences and make suggestions on how schools can better support students in our state.
“How do we make students feel empowered? We lift up stories and information that include all people…” From MindShift, Everyone is Welcome: Making School Libraries Culturally Relevant for all Students.
Legislative Update for January 13, 2023
The 2023 Legislative Session officially kicked off this Monday, January 9th, and lawmakers were busy from the get go. The inner workings of the state capitol have returned to the “pre-covid era,” with legislators, lobbyists, and even the public back inside the building. Lawmakers have a full agenda, including writing a new two-year state operating budget, and education funding remains a top priority. As in most sectors of our state, the pandemic has left it’s mark and education is no exception. According to this Associated Press article, a district-by-district analysis by researchers, “found the average pupil in the United States lost over half a school year in math and nearly a quarter of a school year in reading.” This data includes students from a number of school districts across our state. Crosscut reports that the two Senate leaders, both of whom worked years ago on the Legislature’s McCleary school-funding fix, raised the need for a focus on education. Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig said, “a big focus will be early learning programs and special education and an increase in nurses, counselors and other staff.”
State Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, gave his annual address on Monday, sharing information regarding student learning recovery, student mental health and well being, graduation and enrollment data and school funding. Reykdal stated, “I have put forward a package for legislative consideration that would support continued recovery and acceleration for our students and ensure our state is investing at least at the national average.” Dahlia Bazzaz, of the Seattle Times, digs into the details of Reydal’s policy proposals in her article, Why the State’s Education Leader Says WA Schools are ‘Accelerating.’
Governor Jay Inslee gave his “State of the State” speech on Tuesday, which has become an annual custom in Olympia. For the first time since 2020, Inslee delivered the speech to a full chamber, including state representatives, senators, elected officials, state Supreme Court justices and foreign dignitaries, the Seattle Times reported. During his speech, Inslee praised the Legislature for last year’s “historic investments” in schools and said his proposed budget includes a $3 billion increase in spending for K-12 public education, including more money for special education.
Education Hearings for Next Week on TVW.org
House Education Committee
- Monday, January 16 at 1:30pm
- Tuesday, January 17 at 4pm
- Thursday, January 19 at 8am
Senate Early Learning & K12 Education
- Monday, January 16 at 1:30pm
- Wednesday, January 18 at 1:30pm
- Thursday, January 19 at 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.
Legislative Bills
HB 1003: which would expand access to dual credit programs.
HB 1013: which would establish regional apprenticeship programs.
HB 1015: which concerns minimum employment requirements for paraeducators.
HB 1044: which would provide capital financial assistance to small school districts with demonstrated funding challenges.
HB 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.
HB 1071: which would authorize funding for a school resource officer in every school.
HB 1093: which aims to provide parents and their children with more choices for a quality elementary and secondary education through the family empowerment scholarship program.
HB 1109: which would provide additional special education funding to school districts in order to increase initial evaluations during summers.
HB 1113: which relates to reviewing reprimands for professional educators.
HB 1146: which would require schools to notify high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance.
HB 1207: which aims to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools through updated policies and procedures.
HB 1273: which would empower school districts to determine requirements for high school and beyond plans regarding student fulfillment and graduation.
HB 1277: which would establish rules to improve the consistency and quality of the implementation of the fundamental courses of study for paraeducators.
SB 5008: which relates to providing parents and legal guardians access to instructional materials.
SB 5009: which would require parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.
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: 26:34). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA, NASW and OSPI. Testifying as “other”: representatives from the WSSDA, Lake Washington SD and PSE.
SB 5020: which would lower the minimum age for compulsory school attendance from eight to six years old, and amend truancy provisions to align with this change, as well as require parents who homeschool to file an annual declaration of intent beginning at age 6 (hearing time: 46:17). Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA and several concerned citizens.
SB 5024: which would establish a parents’ bill of rights related to their child’s public education.
SB 5038: which would modify deadlines for notice of nonrenewal of certificated educator contracts from May 15th to June 1st (hearing time: 1:03:44). Testifying as “other”: representatives from the WEA.
SB 5048: which would eliminate college in the high school fees.
SB 5064: which concerns excess cost allocations for special education programs.
SB 5072: which would advance equity in programs for highly capable students.
SB 5085: which concerns principal and assistant principal terms of employment.
SB 5102: which concerns school library information and technology programs.
SB 5126: which would provide common school trust revenue to small school districts.
SB 5127: which would clarify school districts’ ability to redact personal information related to a student.
SB 5180: which aims to support the retention of teachers by removing barriers to licensure and creating a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility.
SB 5311: which concerns special education funding formula.
SB 5315: which concerns nonpublic agencies operating special education programs for students with disabilities within public schools.
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.