HB 1570 grants collective bargaining rights to student employees (those enrolled in academic or certificate programs) at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It defines specific bargaining topics, including tuition remission and waivers, while excluding issues like academic calendars, tuition amounts, student admissions, and termination based on academic performance. Compensation agreements must align with legislative budget limits, though institutions may offer additional pay beyond these limits. The bill applies only to employees not already covered by other collective bargaining laws at these institutions.
This bill preserves timber tax funding for Washington school districts that recently failed to pass local levies. It requires counties to use the highest previous year's levy rate (from the last two years) when calculating distributions if a district doesn't impose a current levy. The key mechanism ensures school districts continue receiving timber tax funds for non-debt purposes, even after levy failure, by basing calculations on historical rates. This directly affects school districts that have experienced levy failures within the last two years. The policy change modifies existing distribution rules under RCW 84.33.081 to maintain stable funding for school operations.
SB 5922 allows Washington school districts to transfer funds from fully depreciated student transportation vehicles to other purposes, such as purchasing electric buses or installing charging stations, after receiving approval from the superintendent of public instruction. The bill modifies existing rules to permit this transfer when a district reduces its fleet due to declining enrollment or changing transportation needs. Funds in the dedicated "transportation vehicle fund" must still be used exclusively for school bus-related expenses, including electric vehicle conversions, major repairs, or charging infrastructure. It directly affects school districts managing student transportation fleets, ensuring funds remain tied to transportation purposes while enabling modernization efforts. The change streamlines how districts reallocate resources from older vehicles without compromising future transportation planning.
HB 2317 amends Washington State's early learning program licensing rules by adding "outdoor nature-based child care" as a defined program type, requiring such programs to operate in approved outdoor spaces for at least four hours daily and follow a nature-based curriculum. It expands the definition of "early learning" to explicitly include services like preschool, child care subsidies, parent education, and nature-based programs. The bill clarifies exemptions for certain providers, including seasonal camps, military-affiliated programs, and nature-based programs meeting specific criteria, removing them from full licensing requirements. These changes directly affect child care centers, family providers, and early learning programs operating under state oversight.
SB 5872 creates the "preK promise account" to fund Washington's early childhood education and assistance program. The account, managed by the state treasurer, accepts gifts, grants, and donations specifically for this program, with funds tracked separately by donor. It prohibits leftover funds from reverting to the general state budget at the end of each biennium. The bill ensures dedicated, ongoing support for early childhood education services without requiring annual legislative appropriations.
HB 2534 (Promoting educational stability for children of military families) helps military-connected children enroll in Washington schools more smoothly when their families relocate due to military orders. It allows schools to accept enrollment applications before the child arrives in Washington, using military orders as proof of relocation (e.g., transfers to WA or bordering states, deployments), and requires parents to provide documentation within 90 days. The bill ensures schools transfer special education plans (like IEPs or 504 plans) from previous states and provide comparable services without delay. This directly affects military families moving to Washington and public school districts handling their enrollments.
HB 2557 requires Washington school districts to provide parents of children in special education with written evaluation reports at least five school days before eligibility meetings, ensuring they can review the reports and prepare questions in advance. The bill sets a 35-school-day timeline for completing evaluations and delivering reports, with meetings scheduled no sooner than five days after report delivery. It mandates reports be provided in accessible written or electronic formats (not just during meetings) and allows parents to voluntarily waive the five-day review period in writing. Failure to provide reports on time without a waiver constitutes a procedural violation that could be considered in disputes over parental participation rights. The law directly affects parents, school districts, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which must update guidance and rules to implement these requirements.
HB 1285 establishes financial education instruction as a graduation requirement for public high school students in Washington state. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, all high schools must provide instruction in the state financial education learning standards. Starting with the graduating class of 2031, students will be required to meet these standards to graduate. The bill also tasks the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with making instructional materials available and outlines monitoring responsibilities for the State Board of Education.
HB 2044 revises how unexcused student absences are addressed by school districts, affecting students and their parents. The bill eliminates the requirement for school districts to file truancy petitions before a child's fifth unexcused absence. Instead, after a fifth unexcused absence, districts are directed to enter into an attendance agreement with the parent or child (if age eight or above), either directly or through a community engagement board. Truancy petitions to juvenile court are now generally required only if an attendance agreement is not reached or not complied with, and typically not before the child's 15th unexcused absence in a school year.
HB 1296, "Promoting a safe and supportive public education system," enacts new requirements for public schools, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools in Washington. The bill prioritizes student safety, access to education free of discrimination, and privacy within the school system. It expands protected characteristics to include ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence in anti-discrimination policies. Furthermore, the bill mandates that schools develop and share a "Statement of Student Rights" through educational and promotional materials, including civics education, to inform students of their entitlements.
