Legislative Update for February 19, 2021

The focus was definitely on fiscal committees this week as legislators work to meet the next significant cut-off date of this legislative session on Monday, February 22. By the end of that day, bills need to be passed out of the House fiscal committees
and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees in each house of origin. Some of these committees will meet on Saturday to continue this work.

Advocacy Continues

Our partners at WASA, WASBO, and WSSDA will be working on Sunday this weekend when they meet in the afternoon for their annual legislative conference. District administrators, superintendents and school directors will have their virtual “week on
the hill” March 15–19. Advocacy always continues and our stories about what students and staff need to operate schools safely are critical to keep sharing with policymakers so that funding meets these needs.

We will turn our attention to some national advocacy efforts next week when NAESP holds their National Leaders Conference on February 22–24. NASSP holds their
advocacy conference on April 20–21, registration is free for either of these events. We will also meet virtually with some of our members of Congress and/or
their staff over these next few weeks to share what we have been doing in our state and to ask for their continued support for schools.

Graduation Waiver

We were thrilled that the graduation waiver bill passed the Senate this week and is headed to Governor Inslee for his signature. The next step in this process is to quickly get feedback to the State Board of Education (SBE) to help them with their rule-making
process. Provide input on key decision points (outlined in this video brief) by completing this short survey before February 25. The SBE hopes to adopt these new rules
at their March 10–11 meeting.

Budget

Work to get federal funds via HB 1368 out to school districts is ongoing and districts are required to review and update their reopening
plans for the 2020–21 school year by March 1st. Visit OSPI’s website for more information. We’ve heard
that the funds could be in districts’ hands as early as March 13. In concert with these funds, we are working to ensure that state funding for enrollment and transportation is held steady for districts for next year using 2019–20 numbers.
SB 5128 (transportation) and HB 1476 (enrollment/categorical programs) are the vehicles for the state dollars, in addition to the supplemental and operating budgets. We also continue to follow SB 5386 which would lower the voter approval threshold from 60 percent to 55 percent of voters for school districts to issue general obligation bonds as well as the Capital Budget.

COVID–19 Information

Here is additional information that the Department of Health released about efforts to expand the school testing initiative to encourage more in-person learning.
And here is the link for the new “Learn to Return Playbook” with guidance on best practices
and protocols for implementing a COVID–19 testing strategy. About 10 districts contributed to this document and they are sharing their experiences to help all of those who are working to reopen schools. We meet weekly with the Governor’s
office, Department of Health, and Labor and Industries about COVID–19 related issues and communication and if you have any questions, let me know.

Important Bills Still Moving:

House

HB 1028 | Repealing the EdTPA

HB 1113 | Concerning school attendance

HB 1121 | Emergency graduation waivers

HB 1139 | Addressing lead in drinking water

HB 1153 | Increasing language access in schools

HB 1162 | Adding a performance exhibition pathway and changing to 20 credits for graduation

HB 1176 | Concerning student fines and fees

HB 1208 | Concerning the LAP program

HB 1213 | Expanding child care and early learning programs

HB 1214 | Concerning training for and data collection of school safety staff

HB 1225 | School based health centers

HB 1266 | Concerning basic education and salary review and rebase

HB 1273 | Concerning menstrual products in schools

HB 1295 | Concerning institutional education
HB 1302 | College in the high school programs
HB 1325 | Youth behavioral health

HB 1342 | Reduced price lunch copays

HB 1356 | Prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols or images
HB 1363 | Secondary trauma resources for K–12 staff HB 1373 Promoting student access to information about behavioral health
resources

HB 1404 | Highly capable programs

HB 1415 | Skill center class size

HB 1419 | Adjusting experience factors for certificated instructional staff

HB 1426 | Continuing education requirements for administrators and teachers

HB 1450 | Procuring and supporting the use of appropriate computers and devices for schools

HB 1451 | ECEAP entitlement date and definition

HB 1466 | Promoting access to outdoor education

HB 1477 | National 988 system for suicide prevention

HB 1484 | Concerning the first responder building mapping information system

Senate

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