I wanted to start this week’s legislative update as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and as an important reminder that persistent effort and engagement in advocacy is essential. As I’ve been reading through the dozens of education bills that have been pre-filed or filed early in the legislative session, I’m reminded that many of them are previous bills that didn’t pass but that have been reworked over the interim. It can take years to pass policy related to some issues which, of course, is both good and bad. Our task is to keep showing up and weighing in with our voices about what schools need to support the academic and social-emotional needs of each and every student. Thank you to so many who are engaged in our advocacy efforts! Check out a list below of principals who weighed in this week related to a variety of bills and to the OSPI hearing related to 20-minute seated lunch rules. Your voices matter!
The Capitol was bustling this week getting new state officials sworn in and jumping into all of the committee hearings that take place daily. Governor Inslee gave his final State of the Union address and Governor Bob Ferguson gave his incoming address. Governor Ferguson has vowed not to make cuts to K-12 education and has stated that his budget priorities do not include new sources of revenue. The “Big 3” funding issues of special education, MSOC, and transportation, however, demand at least $1 billion more in funding so conversations continue about how to increase funding to K-12 education.
Bills Heard This Week
Both the House Appropriations and the Senate Ways and Means committees started the week hearing the two operating budget bills (HB 1198 and SB 5167). Casey Brown, AWSP’s contract lobbyist, testified to ask that funding in the budget for the principal intern grant not be reduced (as Governor Inslee’s budget would do).
House Education
The House Education committee held work sessions all week to get new members up to speed on various K-12 issues. Topics included background information on K-12 education in Washington, an overview of all of the main education agencies in our state such as OSPI, WSSDA, PESB, and the State Board of Education, and the impact of the pandemic on our students and staff.
Senate Education
The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee started off with several bills hearing this week. Bills heard included:
- SB 5030 Improving access to educational services by reducing barriers to obtaining vital records
- SB 5134Â Requiring public schools to commemorate the contributions of Chinese Americans
- SB 5003 Establishing the school security and preparedness infrastructure grant program
- SB 5004 Updating emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons
- SB 5210Â Establishing the ninth grade success grant program
- SB 5193 Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs
- SB 5189 Supporting the implementation of competency-based education
- SB 5186 Concerning school district elections (55% for bonds)
- SB 5190Â Allowing school districts to request extensions to state energy performance standards
Bills Heard Next Week
House Education
The House Education Committee will have two more work sessions next week, one on the State Board of Education’s Future Ready Initiative and one on student mental and behavioral health supports. Hearings will also begin on these bills:
- HB 1285 Making financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools
- HB 1289 Gathering survey information to improve the public school system
- HB 1296 Promoting a safe and supportive public education system
