Week 7 - 2020 Legislative Update
by Samantha Miller
Happy Friday! Here we are at the end of February and things are moving right along. Bill cut-off in the policy committees is today, and there will be two more cut-offs next week.
On Monday, the House and Senate released their proposed
2020 supplemental operating budgets. The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA)
website
summarizes the proposed budgets and highlights several key funding areas where both the House and Senate overlap. Funding for paraeducator training, Local Effort Assistance, pupil transportation, mental health and safety, and dual language efforts all saw significant proposed funding from both houses.
Here is your OSPI Policy Shop update for week 7. This update is entirely focused on comprehensive sexual health education and ESSB 5395.
BILLS PROGRESSING
- ESHB 1264: Concerns secondary traumatic stress in public school staff. In senate Ed committee. Testified in favor: WEA, OSPI. None opposed. (hearing time: 41:67)
- 3SHB 1660: Concerns the participation of students who are low income in extracurricular activities. Scheduled for executive action today in Senate Ed Committee. (hearing time: 26:53)
- ESHB 2220: Concerns volunteers in schools after a criminal conviction. This bill would make it easier for parents with criminal records to volunteer in their child's classroom. Scheduled for executive action today in Senate Ed Committee. (hearing time: 50:35)
- HB 2458: Concerns optional benefits offered by school districts. Scheduled for executive action today in Senate Ways & Means Committee.
- SHB 2711: Increases equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to postsecondary education. The bill passed out of the Senate Ed Committee on Monday (hearing time: 125:04) and has a public hearing on scheduled for today in Senate Ways & Means Committee.
- ESHB 2816: Nurtures positive social and emotional school and classroom climates. Scheduled for executive action today in Senate Ed Committee. (hearing time: 135:03)
- SHB 2864: Establishes a running start summer pilot program. The pilot would start at three undetermined colleges or universities in the state. (hearing time: 22:44) Scheduled for executive action today in Senate Ed Committee.
- ESSB 5395: Concerns comprehensive sexual health education. This bill would require schools to select a curriculum and provide sexual health education for grades K-12. Executive session raised concerns regarding curriculum adoption, content in younger grades and funding. Passed out of Ed committee with a 9-8 vote. (hearing time: 18:53)
- SB 6047: Prohibits retaliation against school district employees that report noncompliance with individualized education programs. Passed out of House Ed Committee, referred to Rules Committee.
- SB 6066: Expands ethnic studies materials and resources for public school students in grades kindergarten through six. Testified or signed in favor: Federal Way Teacher & 2018 Regional Teacher of the Year, One America, Bellevue School District Teacher, Tree House, WSSDA, and OSPI. None opposed. Passed out of House Ed Committee. (hearing time: 00:20)
- 2SSB 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. In House Appropriations Committee.
- SSB 6191: Assessing the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in middle and high school students to inform decision making and improve services. Passed out of House Ed Committee.
- SSB 6521: Creates an innovative pilot learning program. This bill requires OSPI to create a program that would authorize full time enrollment funding for students who are enrolled in mastery-based learning programs. Testified in support: OSPI, State Board of Education. None opposed. Passed out of House Ed Committee. (hearing time: 40:11)
Here are bills that had hearings this week, but didn't pass out of the House Education Committee and are therefore considered dead.
- ESB 5834: Concerns the immigration status of students. This bill would inform parents about students' rights to a free public education without regard to immigration status or religion. Testified in support of this bill: Superintendent of Hoquiam School District, Strengthening Sanctuary Alliance, OSPI, WEA, WA State PTA. None opposed. (hearing time: 17:00 and 38:36) . Bill was scheduled in house Ed executive session 2/27 but no action was taken.
- ESSB 5908: Provides training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system. Testified in favor: Washington School Directors Association, Auburn SD educator. None opposed. (hearing time: 25:00) Bill was scheduled for executive session in House Ed Committee but no action was taken.
- SB 6138: Concerns the Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) 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 support: WEA, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. None opposed. (hearing time 28:49) Bill was scheduled for executive session in House Ed Committee but no action was taken.
- SSB 6262: Teaches Washington's tribal history, culture, and government. Testified in support: Two members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, one member of the Stillaguamish Tribe, OSPI (hearing time: 31:46) Bill was scheduled for executive session in House Ed Committee but no action was taken.
ODDS AND ENDS
Last week was the second annual
"Bring your Parent to School Day"
for the students of Ridgefield School District. Kids got the chance to see their parents participate in PE drills, choir practice, and science experiments!
Have a great weekend!
Samantha Miller
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Legislative Links:
Legislative Website: Get information on bills, legislators, hearings and more.
Bill Tracker: Track specific bills, read bill reports.
TVW: Watch live and archived legislative proceedings.
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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.
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