Education was mentioned frequently by lawmakers during the legislative preview the week before the 2023 session began in January. They're concerned about learning loss during the pandemic and how to make sure all Washington students have an opportunity to continue their education and workforce training after high school. These issues and others are the subject of bills before lawmakers this year.
For more insights, read these Crosscut stories:
Why you should pay attention to the 2023 Washington Legislature
Education was mentioned frequently by lawmakers during the legislative preview the week before the 2023 session began in January. They're concerned about learning loss during the pandemic and how to make sure all Washington students have an opportunity to continue their education and workforce training after high school. These issues and others are the subject of bills before lawmakers this year.
For more insights, read these Crosscut stories:
Why you should pay attention to the 2023 Washington Legislature
House Bill 1002 would make hazing a class C felony, include hazing in the legal definition of “harassment,” as well as including a categorization of felony hazing for prosecuting standards. Hazing can also be punished alongside any other crime that is committed during the act. This bill, also known as the Sam Martinez stop hazing law, is named for a WSU student who died while pledging a fraternity.
Status: Passed the House on March 1. Passed the Senate Committee on Law & Justice March 22. Passed the Senate on April 5.
WA HB 1002: Increasing the hazing penalty
House Bill 1002 would make hazing a class C felony, include hazing in the legal definition of “harassment,” as well as including a categorization of felony hazing for prosecuting standards. Hazing can also be punished alongside any other crime that is committed during the act. This bill, also known as the Sam Martinez stop hazing law, is named for a WSU student who died while pledging a fraternity.
Status: Passed the House on March 1. Passed the Senate Committee on Law & Justice March 22. Passed the Senate on April 5.
House Bill 1003 aims to make it easier for low income high school students to access college-level classes. If a student’s family qualifies for in-state college financial aid, they would also be eligible for subsidized fees related to dual credit classes in high school. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, public four-year institutions of higher education and the Student Achievement Council would be responsible for creating an income qualification form for this program, if the bill passes.
Status: Did not make it out of a House committee and is likely dead.
Read more about the proposal in this Crosscut story.
WA HB 1003: Expanding dual credit programs
House Bill 1003 aims to make it easier for low income high school students to access college-level classes. If a student’s family qualifies for in-state college financial aid, they would also be eligible for subsidized fees related to dual credit classes in high school. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, public four-year institutions of higher education and the Student Achievement Council would be responsible for creating an income qualification form for this program, if the bill passes.
Status: Did not make it out of a House committee and is likely dead.
Read more about the proposal in this Crosscut story.
House Bill 1013 seeks to establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with two sites: one west of the Cascades and one east of the mountains. This program would coordinate with local school districts, community colleges, labor unions and industry groups, to determine what areas of work are best suited for the apprenticeships. Additionally, the bill calls for reports on the efficacy of the programs from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction by the end of 2026 and 2028, including information on the participating students, and recommendations for the future.
Status: Passed the House on March 2. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 23. Passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means April 4. Passed the Senate on April 10.
WA HB 1013: Establishing regional apprenticeship programs
House Bill 1013 seeks to establish a regional apprenticeship pilot program with two sites: one west of the Cascades and one east of the mountains. This program would coordinate with local school districts, community colleges, labor unions and industry groups, to determine what areas of work are best suited for the apprenticeships. Additionally, the bill calls for reports on the efficacy of the programs from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction by the end of 2026 and 2028, including information on the participating students, and recommendations for the future.
Status: Passed the House on March 2. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 23. Passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means April 4. Passed the Senate on April 10.
Senate Bill 5020 would lower the age at which children are required to begin schooling. In a majority of other states, that age is set at five or six, while in Washington, it is currently eight. This bill seeks to lower the age requirement to six through an amendment of the compulsory attendance laws.
More information on this proposal in this Crosscut story.
Status: Did not make it out of the Senate. Appears to be dead.
WA SB 5020: Age of mandatory education
Senate Bill 5020 would lower the age at which children are required to begin schooling. In a majority of other states, that age is set at five or six, while in Washington, it is currently eight. This bill seeks to lower the age requirement to six through an amendment of the compulsory attendance laws.
More information on this proposal in this Crosscut story.
Status: Did not make it out of the Senate. Appears to be dead.
House Bill 1146 builds off of House Bill 1003, which aims to expand access to dual credit programs before college. House Bill 1146 would promote the programs to students, parents and guardians and provide information about costs and possible financial assistance. These notifications would come primarily in the form of emails, and would be translated into the primary language of the parent or guardian.
Status: Introduced in the House Jan. 9. Passed by the House Education Committee on Feb. 2. Passed the House on Feb. 13. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 22. No vote on the Senate floor. Appears to be dead.
WA HB 1146: Notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit
House Bill 1146 builds off of House Bill 1003, which aims to expand access to dual credit programs before college. House Bill 1146 would promote the programs to students, parents and guardians and provide information about costs and possible financial assistance. These notifications would come primarily in the form of emails, and would be translated into the primary language of the parent or guardian.
Status: Introduced in the House Jan. 9. Passed by the House Education Committee on Feb. 2. Passed the House on Feb. 13. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 22. No vote on the Senate floor. Appears to be dead.
House Bill 1050 gives more opportunities for apprenticeship work in Washington. All public works contracts costing more than $1,000,000 and all subcontracts worth more than $200,000 would require at least 15% of the work to be performed by apprentices. This includes work contracted by the state, municipalities, local school districts and four-year institutions of higher education.
Status: Passed the House on Feb. 28. Passed the Senate March 31.
WA HB 1050: Expanding apprenticeship utilization requirements
House Bill 1050 gives more opportunities for apprenticeship work in Washington. All public works contracts costing more than $1,000,000 and all subcontracts worth more than $200,000 would require at least 15% of the work to be performed by apprentices. This includes work contracted by the state, municipalities, local school districts and four-year institutions of higher education.
Status: Passed the House on Feb. 28. Passed the Senate March 31.
Senate Bill 5072 would prioritize identification of high capable low income students. Nomination of said students would be made through screening procedures or referrals from teachers, parents, or other community members. Schools would be required to look at two of the following areas for consideration: assessments in the classroom, in performance or cognition, or overall academic achievement. A multidisciplinary selection committee will be responsible for final placement decisions. Once the bill takes effect, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must publish an annual list of students in the highly capable program and their demographics.
Status: Passed by the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on Jan. 25. Passed by the Senate on Feb. 8. Passed the House March 22.
WA SB 5072 Advancing equity in highly capable programs
Senate Bill 5072 would prioritize identification of high capable low income students. Nomination of said students would be made through screening procedures or referrals from teachers, parents, or other community members. Schools would be required to look at two of the following areas for consideration: assessments in the classroom, in performance or cognition, or overall academic achievement. A multidisciplinary selection committee will be responsible for final placement decisions. Once the bill takes effect, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must publish an annual list of students in the highly capable program and their demographics.
Status: Passed by the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on Jan. 25. Passed by the Senate on Feb. 8. Passed the House March 22.
Senate Bill 5009 seeks to require the written consent of a parent or legal guardian of a grade school student before the student’s sex education instruction at a public school. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, this proposal would make comprehensive sex education instruction an opt-in instead of opt-out as it has been.
Status: Introduced in the Senate Jan. 9. Bill did not pass out of committee by the Feb. 17 cutoff. Appears to be dead.
WA SB 5009: Requiring parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education
Senate Bill 5009 seeks to require the written consent of a parent or legal guardian of a grade school student before the student’s sex education instruction at a public school. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, this proposal would make comprehensive sex education instruction an opt-in instead of opt-out as it has been.
Status: Introduced in the Senate Jan. 9. Bill did not pass out of committee by the Feb. 17 cutoff. Appears to be dead.
House Bill 1332 would create an “Indian education division” for public schools, specifically for the development of tribal sovereignty curriculum. This curriculum, created in consultation with nearby tribes, would eventually showcase tribal culture, history and governance, and vary depending on grade level. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would assess school districts regarding their curriculum and offer grants to those that comply with the curriculum guidelines. The baseline curriculum implementation would have to happen by September 2024, with the expanded curriculum (history, culture, government) in place by September 2025.
Status: Passed the House on March 8. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 23. Passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. No vote on the Senate floor. Appears to be dead.
WA House Bill 1332 Tribal Curriculum for Public Schools
House Bill 1332 would create an “Indian education division” for public schools, specifically for the development of tribal sovereignty curriculum. This curriculum, created in consultation with nearby tribes, would eventually showcase tribal culture, history and governance, and vary depending on grade level. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would assess school districts regarding their curriculum and offer grants to those that comply with the curriculum guidelines. The baseline curriculum implementation would have to happen by September 2024, with the expanded curriculum (history, culture, government) in place by September 2025.
Status: Passed the House on March 8. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 23. Passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. No vote on the Senate floor. Appears to be dead.
Senate Bill 5311 seeks to address funding for special education programs in public schools. It would increase special education excess cost multipliers (slight alterations to state funding for Pre K-12 special education) over the next four school years, as well as increasing the funding cap from 13.5% to 15%. Additionally, safety net funding for the programs will be decided not by a committee, but by average per-pupil expenditure compared to the state and district.
Status: Passed the Senate on March 3. Passed the House Committee on Education March 20, passed the House Committee on Appropriations April 4. No vote on the House floor before cutoff but is related to the budget so could be involved in budget negotiations.
Senate Bill 5311 Special education funding formula
Senate Bill 5311 seeks to address funding for special education programs in public schools. It would increase special education excess cost multipliers (slight alterations to state funding for Pre K-12 special education) over the next four school years, as well as increasing the funding cap from 13.5% to 15%. Additionally, safety net funding for the programs will be decided not by a committee, but by average per-pupil expenditure compared to the state and district.
Status: Passed the Senate on March 3. Passed the House Committee on Education March 20, passed the House Committee on Appropriations April 4. No vote on the House floor before cutoff but is related to the budget so could be involved in budget negotiations.
House Bill 1436 seeks to provide complete funding for special education programs, overriding the former 13.5% cap of students who could be covered by state funding. This would mean that school districts would no longer need to apply for community impact relief. Additionally, House Bill 1436 would introduce new means of applying for school district funding outside of special education, as well as gather annual data on students receiving special education instruction and provide assistance for schools that are struggling with implementing these programs.
Status: Passed the House on March 2. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 27, passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. Passed the Senate on April 12.
WA House Bill 1436 Funding special education
House Bill 1436 seeks to provide complete funding for special education programs, overriding the former 13.5% cap of students who could be covered by state funding. This would mean that school districts would no longer need to apply for community impact relief. Additionally, House Bill 1436 would introduce new means of applying for school district funding outside of special education, as well as gather annual data on students receiving special education instruction and provide assistance for schools that are struggling with implementing these programs.
Status: Passed the House on March 2. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 27, passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. Passed the Senate on April 12.
House Bill 1238 provide free school breakfast and lunch to all more school students, including those not eligible for free and reduced lunch if they are at a school where a majority of children are qualified for free lunch. The proposal would apply to charter and state-tribal compact schools as well. These meals would be reimbursed by the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This bill would also amend related parts of the RCW to align with these changes, among other funding related changes.
Status: Passed the House on March 2. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 20, passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. Passed the Senate on April 11.
Read more about school meals legislation at Crosscut.
WA HB 1238 Free School Lunches
House Bill 1238 provide free school breakfast and lunch to all more school students, including those not eligible for free and reduced lunch if they are at a school where a majority of children are qualified for free lunch. The proposal would apply to charter and state-tribal compact schools as well. These meals would be reimbursed by the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This bill would also amend related parts of the RCW to align with these changes, among other funding related changes.
Status: Passed the House on March 2. Passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education March 20, passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. Passed the Senate on April 11.
Read more about school meals legislation at Crosscut.
House Bill 1316 aims to allow all students to participate in running start classes, as well as be funded a maximum enrollment of 1.6 full-time equivalents of material, replacing the previous limit of 1.2 FTEs. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would have to calculate said FTEs based on the student’s enrollment time, course load and other factors. The bill also declares that running start programs are not included under the state’s program of statutory education.
Status: Passed the House March 4, passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on March 22. Passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. Passed the Senate on April 12.
For more information on bills to expand access to dual credit programs, read this Crosscut story.
WA HB 1316 Expanding access to dual credit programs
House Bill 1316 aims to allow all students to participate in running start classes, as well as be funded a maximum enrollment of 1.6 full-time equivalents of material, replacing the previous limit of 1.2 FTEs. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would have to calculate said FTEs based on the student’s enrollment time, course load and other factors. The bill also declares that running start programs are not included under the state’s program of statutory education.
Status: Passed the House March 4, passed the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on March 22. Passed the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on April 4. Passed the Senate on April 12.
For more information on bills to expand access to dual credit programs, read this Crosscut story.
Senate Bill 5048 would require college in high school courses to be offered at no cost to all levels of high school instruction. It would be up to the Legislature to pass an operating budget for said classes, with various funding rates depending on what type of university is administering the course, adjusting for inflation every year. The website advertising these classes must include the fact that there is no enrollment fee, as well as provide course equivalencies.
Status: Passed the Senate March 8, passed the House Committee on Post-secondary Education & Workforce on March 24. Passed the House Committee on Appropriations on April 4. Passed the House on April 12.
To learn more about college in high school bills, read this Crosscut story.
WA SB 5048 Eliminating college in high school fees
Senate Bill 5048 would require college in high school courses to be offered at no cost to all levels of high school instruction. It would be up to the Legislature to pass an operating budget for said classes, with various funding rates depending on what type of university is administering the course, adjusting for inflation every year. The website advertising these classes must include the fact that there is no enrollment fee, as well as provide course equivalencies.
Status: Passed the Senate March 8, passed the House Committee on Post-secondary Education & Workforce on March 24. Passed the House Committee on Appropriations on April 4. Passed the House on April 12.
To learn more about college in high school bills, read this Crosscut story.
House Bill 1479 seeks to ban the use of chemical, mechanical and emotional restraint and isolation at schools and other education providers. This would reserve cases of limited physical restraint and isolation only to prevent likely, forthcoming harm. For this, school districts will have to claim a waiver from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and after the case of restraint, begin a detailed process of notifying the principal, parents/guardian of the restrained student, the OSPI, and provide a written behavioral assessment and intervention plan for the future. The OSPI must support school districts in developing their limited restraint plans, including training, technical support, and monitoring.
Status: Passed the House Mar. 7. Didn't pass out of a Senate committee. Appears to be dead.
WA HB 1479 Public school student isolation and restraint
House Bill 1479 seeks to ban the use of chemical, mechanical and emotional restraint and isolation at schools and other education providers. This would reserve cases of limited physical restraint and isolation only to prevent likely, forthcoming harm. For this, school districts will have to claim a waiver from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and after the case of restraint, begin a detailed process of notifying the principal, parents/guardian of the restrained student, the OSPI, and provide a written behavioral assessment and intervention plan for the future. The OSPI must support school districts in developing their limited restraint plans, including training, technical support, and monitoring.
Status: Passed the House Mar. 7. Didn't pass out of a Senate committee. Appears to be dead.