Legislative Update
January 2020
Week 3 - 2020 Legislative Update
by Samantha Miller
 
This week started off big with OSPI sending out a  news release on newly filed SB 6615 , which concerns staff funding for school districts. This bill puts forth findings from OSPI's Staffing Enrichment Workgroup and provides recommendations for updating the K-12 statewide funding formula that has been in place for the last decade. (Personally, I can't think of anything that doesn't need a little revamping after 10 years...) Priority one is to target investments towards mental and emotional health supports and resources.
 
On Monday the Senate Education Committee held a work session regarding harassment, intimidation and bullying in schools. Some interesting data on race and gender was presented, as well as strategies for "teaching behavior." It is definitely worth checking out.
 
OSPI 's Policy Shop is releasing informative weekly videos highlighting specific bills this legislative session. This week's update focuses on bills about comprehensive sexual health education and educator healthcare systems.
 
BILLS HEARD IN HOUSE & SENATE ED COMMITTEES
  • HB 2653: Determines cultural bias in kindergarten assessments. Testified in support: Washington Education Association, kindergarten teacher from Olympia SD, and OSPI. Testified in opposition: 3 parents (hearing time 1:19:40)
  • HB 2864: Establishes a running start summer school pilot program (hearing time 8:28)
  • HB 2631: Creates a family engagement framework. This bill establishes a birth-to- graduation framework that includes parents and teachers, and provides funding for family coordinators in schools. Testified in support: WA State PTA, Governor's Office. None opposed. (hearing time 1:09:25)
  • HB 2690: Provides students with equitable access to a high-quality public education by developing an infrastructure that assists public schools in the delivery of integrated student support. Testified in support: Communities in Schools of WA, WA State Association of School Psychologists, League of Education Voters, OSPI. None opposed. (hearing time 1:21:41)
  • HB 2711: Increases equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to postsecondary education. Testified in support: Treehouse, OSPI, WA State Association of School Psychologists. None opposed. (hearing time 22:57 and 57:00)
  • SB 6344: Concerns school district enrichment levies. Testified in favor: Superintendents from Anacortes and San Juan Island School Districts. None opposed. (hearing time 54:49)
  • SB 6477: Limits school district enrichment levies. (hearing time 55:16)
  • SB 6262: Teaches Washington's tribal history, culture, and government. Testified in support: WA Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, State Board of Education, OSPI, Association of WA School Principals, Rodney Cawston the Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. (hearing time 0:43)
  • SB 6512: Provides housing to school district employees.
  • SB 6505: Expands access to dual credit opportunities by eliminating direct costs to students and families. Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, voiced his support in this HeraldNet article stating, "Family income should never be a barrier to college-level course work."
  • SB 6138 - Concerning the beginning educator support team program. Main objective of this bill is to recruit more mentors of color in order to provide more mentorship opportunities for teachers of color to help improve retention and new teacher growth. Testified in favor: WA Education Association (WEA), OSPI, WA Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. None opposed. (hearing time: 1:00)
NEW BILLS THIS WEEK
SB 6608 : Supports parental school choice
HB 2865: Informs families of kindergarten readiness standards
SB 6655: Concerns background checks for public school employees
 
BILLS PROGRESSING
  • SHB 1076: Modifies certain common school provisions. Two amendments were adopted. First would keep the subject of civics as a stand-a-lone course. Second involved personalized learning. Referred to Rules Committee.
  • ESSB 5395 and HB 1407: Concerns comprehensive sexual health education. This bill passed the senate last Wednesday (28-21 along party lines) and is now in the house. Bill 5395 has created controversy and raised numerous questions. Opponents raised concerns over teaching sex-ed to children in grades K-3. In an interview with KIRO Radio, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal assured parents that students K-4 "will learn more basic information about their bodies that does not approach sexual topics.
  • ESHB 1264: Concerns secondary traumatic stress in public school staff
  • SB 5834:  Concerns the immigration status of students. Executive action was taken and bill moves to Rules Committee. (hearing time 42:41)
OTHER BILLS WE'RE FOLLOWING
HB 2012 : Provides equitable bonuses to K-12 instructional staff who attain
national certification through professional organizations.

SB 5607 and HB 1322 : Concerns dual language learning in early learning and K-12 education. This bill includes incentives and a grant programs to encourage educators to teach in a dual language role.

SB 6075 : Concerns local effort assistance. This bill targets rural areas where property values are lower than their urban counter parts and are thus at a disadvantage in raising enrichment levies.

SB 6117 : Concerns appropriations for special education programs. This bill would financially incentivize schools to keep special needs students within the general education classroom up to 80% of the school day.

SB 6132 and HB 2717 : Allows the learning assistance program to support school-wide behavioral health system of supports and interventions.

SB 6290: Concerns contributions to and eligibility for school employee benefit plans

SB 6296 : Concerns health care benefits for public school employees

SB 6282 : C oncerns the development of individualized highly capable learning  plans (IEP).

SB 6368 : Concerns sick leave for K-12 employees

UP NEXT WEEK
House ED Committee Hearings:
Monday, February 3
  • HB 2184: Requires comprehensive sexual health education with an affirmative consent curriculum in all public schools by the 2022-23 school year
  • HB 2233: Expands the college in high school program to students in ninth grade
  • HB 2290: Concerns statewide implementation of early screening for dyslexia
  • HB 2864: Establishes a running start summer school pilot program
Tuesday, February 4
  • HB 1191: Concerns school notifications
  • HB 2220: Concerns volunteers in schools after a criminal conviction
  • HB 2458: Concerns optional benefits offered by school districts
  • HB 2631: Creates a family engagement framework
  • HB 2690: Provides students with equitable access to a high-quality public education by developing an infrastructure that assists public schools in the delivery of integrated student support
Thursday, February 6
  • HB 2637: Expands school library and technology programs.
  • HB 2643:Concerns educator recertification requirements regarding youth suicide screening, referral, and safety planning
  • HB 2690: Provides students with equitable access to a high-quality public education by developing an infrastructure that assists public schools in the delivery of integrated student support
  • HB 2711: Increases equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to postsecondary education
 
Senate ED Committee Hearings:
Monday, February 3
  • SB 6511: Increases equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to postsecondary education
Wednesday, February 5
  • SB 6339: Creates a computer science grant program for school districts.
  • SB 6615: Concerns staff funding for school districts.
  • SB 5908:Provides training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system
Odds and Ends
If you built your own sailboat, would it make it all the way to Japan? Students at Wy'east Middle School in Vancouver, are taking that challenge.
 
Looking for strategies to help students learn emotional regulation and self-control? Let's turn to the expert, Cookie Monster !
 
Have a great weekend!
Samantha Miller


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Note about 
l egislative 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.