AWSP Blog

This week’s focus was on revenue and budget planning, with a new forecast projecting $844M less in state revenue over the next four years. Senate Democrats released a tax proposal aimed at the wealthy, while key education bills (SB 5192 & SB 5263) could bring $1B to K-12 schools. Meanwhile, national headlines emerged as Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

As the session moves toward Sine Die, now is the time for both houses to coordinate and negotiate their differing budgets and bills that have made it past both houses. Note, both House and Senate budgets will be released 3/24 so the status of much of what is covered below may be clarified by inclusion or exclusion within any budget.

We've been hearing questions from principals and assistant principals across the state about the Parents' Bill of Rights and legislation around them (HB 1296 and SB 5181). To help inform our members and clear up confusion around the Bill of Rights and each of the bills, we have some information to share. The information for the FAQs comes from the bill reports for each bill, as well as the bills' prime sponsors ( Rep. Monica Stonier (D–Vancouver) for HB 1296 and Sen. Claire Wilson (D–Federal Way) for SB 5181).

Washington state law provides clear expectations for behavior at school-sponsored events and grants school officials the authority to maintain safety and order. Laws surrounding disorderly conduct and failure to comply with school administrator directives exist to ensure that events remain enjoyable for everyone. Whether it’s addressing a disruptive spectator, managing an unruly crowd, or dealing with escalating conflicts, principals and administrators have the legal backing to enforce rules and remove individuals who refuse to comply. Understanding these laws not only empowers school leaders but also helps the community recognize the importance of respecting their role in keeping events safe.

As week nine of the legislative session wraps up, AWSP continues to advocate for public education at both the state and federal levels. This week, a team of Washington principals joined over 400 school leaders in Washington, D.C., for the National School Leaders Advocacy Conference, addressing critical issues like school funding, educator recruitment, and student mental health. Meanwhile, in Olympia, legislators faced key deadlines as bills moved forward—get the latest updates on policy decisions, budget discussions, and ways you can take action to support K-12 education.