The legislature began its 2020 session Monday and there is a lot to cover! First, Washington saw its very first female Speaker of the House. Democratic Rep. Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma took the gavel on Monday replacing Democratic Speaker Frank Chopp who held the job for the last twenty years.
House and Senate Committees got right to work this week with work sessions and many bills being heard. Here's the rundown.
BILLS HEARD IN HOUSE & SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEES
HB 1164 and SB 5427 - Concerning dual credit programs, saw testimony from Superintendent Chris Reykdal for lowering student cost barriers when accessing running start classes (hearing starts at 5:00)
HB 1191 - Concerning school notifications, relating to certain crimes committed by students and adjudicated by juvenile system (hearing starts at 1:22)
E2SHB 1660 - Concerning the participation of students who are low income in extracurricular activities. The committee heard testimony from several in favor, two former students shared their experience with sports and the positive impact it had on their lives. (hearing starts at 21:00)
HB 2184 - Requiring comprehensive sexual health education with an affirmative consent curriculum in all public schools by the 2022-23 school year, was heavily discussed in a work session
HB 2633 - Expanding ethnic studies materials and resources for public school students in grades kindergarten through six
SB 6191 - Assessing the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in middle and high school students to inform decision making and improve services (hearing starts at 1:11)
E2SHB 1660 - Concerning the participation of students who are low income in extracurricular activities
HB 2184 - Requiring comprehensive sexual health education with an affirmative consent curriculum in all public schools by the 2022-23 school year
HB 2220 - Volunteering in schools after a criminal conviction
Senate Education Committee Hearings:
Monday, January 20
SB 6253 - Creating a comprehensive statewide early care and education system by improving accessibility and affordability of early care and education programs for families
SB 5607 - Concerning dual language learning in early learning and K-12 education
SB 6132 - Allowing the learning assistance program to support school-wide behavioral health system of supports and interventions
SB 6117 - Concerning appropriations for special education programs
SB 6282 - Concerning the development of individualized highly capable learning plans
Friday, January 24
SB 6138 - Concerning the beginning educator support team program.
SB 6255 - Supporting access to child care for parents who are attending high school or working toward completion of a high school equivalency certificate.
All public hearings can be found in the archives section at TVW.
ODDS & ENDS
In other news... From the Columbian, this boy took solving the lunch debt issue into his own hands, literally.
Spending three snow days inside with my kids, I couldn't resist practicing a few of these games with them.
TVW: Watch live and archived legislative proceedings.
Note about
legislative 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.
