AWSP Blog

This week’s legislative update honors Martin Luther King Jr.’s reminder that meaningful change requires persistence and advocacy. Key highlights include debates on K-12 funding, student mental health, and financial literacy, alongside a focus on the "Big 3" funding issues of special education, MSOC, and transportation. Principals are making their voices heard, and you can too—join us for Day on the Hill on February 10th to advocate for our schools and students.

The 2025 legislative session kicks off on Monday, January 13th and along with a new year, as usual, comes lots of changes. 2025 will be a long, 105-day session where over 2,000 bills will be introduced, and where the biennial operating, capital, and transportation budgets will be adopted by the Legislature and signed by Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson. The session is expected to end by the end of April.

The leaders of Washington’s statewide organizations representing parents and families, teachers, principals, classified school employees, superintendents, school board members, and our state superintendent have four top priorities for supporting Washington’s students this legislative session. Read their joint statement.

The research continues to be very clear about the important role principals play in the system. Leaders of culture, systems, and learning. Creators of hope. This became even more clear as I watched our amazing principals lead during COVID. Their leadership during the last year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Now, let’s not overlook their leadership, persistence, commitment, and experience as districts begin developing those plans. Who has the best glimpse into what each individual school needs? Principals. So, let’s make sure we ask them.

In a unanimous ruling, the State Supreme Court ruled the Legislature is in contempt by failing to provide an ample funding for basic education, the State's paramount duty according to the state constitution. The Court has given the Legislature until the end of the 2015 session to come up with a solution.