Week 4 - Legislative Update

Legislative Update

February 2020

Week 4 - 2020 Legislative Update

by Samantha Miller

Well folks we have made it to "policy cut-off week," the point in the legislative session where things really start to speed up. Today is bill cutoff for policy committees. This means that any bills that are going to move forward must be voted out of their respective policy committees. Bills with financial impact must be voted out of fiscal committees by Tuesday of next week. (This also means that these updates will be getting shorter!) I'll be sure to keep you posted on important dates as further deadlines approach.

On Monday the Washington State Board of Education released their "Legislative Session Highlights." Common themes include child-care access, behavioral health supports, and school funding. Be sure to check out OSPI's Policy Shop video for week 4 of the legislative session. Issues highlighted this week: School based health centers and dual credit courses.

BILLS HEARD IN HOUSE & SENATE ED COMMITTEES

SB 6512: Provides housing to school district employees. This would allow teachers to live in the communites they serve. Testified in support: OSPI, Pacifica Law Group (hearing time: 11:40)
SB 6505: Expands access to dual credit opportunities by eliminating direct costs to students and families. Testified in support: State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, parent. Testified other: Washington State School of Directors Association, Washington State PTA, Central Washington University. Testified in opposition: South Puget Sound Community College. (hearing time: 21:05)
SB 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: State Board of Education, OSPI, Skills Centers Directors Association. None opposed. (hearing time: 4:02
SB 6563: Creates statutory authorization for school-based health centers. Those opposed expressed concerns that parents would be left out of the decision-making process regarding the medical treatment of the children. Testified in favor: Nurse from Bethel SD, Superintendent of Bethel SD. Testified in opposition: 3 concerned citizens, Policy Institute of Washington. (hearing time: 24:08)
SHB 2184:Requires comprehensive sexual health education with an affirmative consent curriculum in all public schools by the 2022-23 school. Passed out of committee with a 9-8 vote. (hearing time: 1:07)
HB 2220: Concerns volunteers in schools after a criminal conviction. One amendment adopted, passed out of committee. (hearing time: 11:37)
HB 2233: Expands the college in high school program to students in ninth grade. This bill requires students and families are provided college-in-the-classroom information when students enter the 8^th grade. Bill passed out of committee (hearing time: 1:07:23)
HB 2290: Concerns statewide implementation of early screening for dyslexia. Bill passed out of committee (hearing time: 1:10:07)
HB 2643:Concerns educator re-certification requirements regarding youth suicide screening, referral, and safety planning. Passed out of committee. (hearing time: 7:18)
HB 2711: Increases equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to post-secondary education. Passed out of committee. (hearing time: 28:13)
SB 5908: Provides training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system. Testified in favor: WEA, Highline and Seattle Public Schools, OSPI, Puget Sound Educational Service District, League of Education Voters. None Opposed. (hearing time: 55:15)
SB 6511: Increases equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to post-secondary education. Testified in favor: Treehouse, Washington Student Achievement Council, Building Changes Non-Profit, OSPI, and College Success Foundation. None opposed. (hearing time: 11:23)
SSB 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. Passed out of committee. (hearing time: 1:31:40)
SB 6138: Concerns 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. Passed out of committee. (hearing time: 1:34:25)
SSB 6282: Concerns the development of individualized highly capable learning plans (IEP). Passed out of committee. (hearing time: 1:32:42)
SB 6368: Concerns sick leave for K-12 employees. Testified in support: Washington Education Association, Washington State School Directors Association, Manson SD classified employee. Testified in opposition: Superintendent of Reardon-Edwall SD (hearing time: 1:18:19)
SB 6339: Creates a computer science grant program for school districts. Testified in favor: Girls Who Code, OSPI. None opposed. (hearing time: 2:06)
SB 6480: Develops comprehensive school counseling programs. Testified in favor: Washington Education Association (WEA), Black Education Strategy Roundtable, Washington School Counselors Association, OSPI, Stand For Children (hearing time: 25:48)
SB 6615: Concerns staff funding for school districts. This bill puts forth findings of OSPI's Staffing Enrichment Workgroup and provides recommendations for updating the K-12 statewide funding formula. Priority one is to target investments towards mental and emotional health supports and resources. This Kent Reporter article further explains proposed changes to the current funding model. Public hearing on the proposed substitute bill. (hearing time: 1:15:28)

NEW BILL THIS WEEK

SB 6672: Feeds all children in Washington schools

BILLS PROGRESSING

ESHB 1264 : Concerns secondary traumatic stress in public school staff

HB 2719: Concerns the use of K-3 class size funding for student supports

SHB 2864: Establishes a running start summer pilot program

SSB 5607: Concerns dual language learning in early learning and K-12 education

SSB 5354: Concerns programs for highly capable students

SB 5834: Concerns the immigration status of students

ESSB 5395 and HB 1407: Concerns comprehensive sexual health education. One of two sex-education bills that are being debated, this bill passed out of the senate along party lines and is now in the house. This bill gives school districts two years to adopt and implement a comprehensive sexual health curriculum, as opposed to it's newer version, HB 2184 , that would give districts three years to comply. This Crosscut article provides extensive background and information on both bills.

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

SB 6296 : Concerns health care benefits for public school employees

SB 6066: Expands ethnic studies materials and resources for public school students in grades kindergarten through six

OTHER BILLS WE'RE FOLLOWING

HB 2012: Provides equitable bonuses to K-12 instructional staff who attain national certification through professional organizations
HB 2653: Determines cultural bias in kindergarten assessments
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 post-secondary education
SB 6075: Concerns local effort assistance
SB 6132 and HB 2717: Allows the learning assistance program to support school-wide behavioral health system of supports and interventions
SB 6608: Supports parental school choice

ODDS AND ENDS

" I'm able to sleep in as long as I need to, so I always get like a good night's rest..." In this article from NPR, Michigan High Schoolers are starting school at 3pm and it has made a world of difference.

Trying to make the assessment process a little more varied? Here are a few fun games that test students' knowledge.

Have a great weekend!

Samantha Miller

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.

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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