HB 2049 aims to enhance funding for K-12 education and communities by modifying state and local property tax authority and adjusting the school funding formula. The bill revises the maximum dollar amount school districts can levy for enrichment, setting it as the lesser of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value or a per-pupil limit. This per-pupil limit is updated with specific "inflation enhancements" through 2030 and establishes a new base amount starting in 2031, impacting funding based on student enrollment. Additionally, it adjusts how the state provides local effort assistance funding to supplement these school district enrichment levies.
HB 1651 establishes formal frameworks for teacher residency and apprenticeship programs in Washington state. It defines a teacher residency as a preparation model integrating a full year of collaborative classroom teaching with academic coursework, requiring partnerships between schools and approved teacher preparation programs. Residents must receive at least 900 hours of clinical practice, and both residents and their preservice mentors receive funding or stipends. The bill also defines teacher apprenticeships as programs providing 2,000 hours of on-the-job mentored teaching experience, approved by both the state apprenticeship and training council and the professional educator standards board. These programs aim to provide structured, hands-on training for aspiring teachers.
Senate Bill 5769 renames "transitional kindergarten" to "transition to kindergarten programs" and formally establishes them in state statute. The program aims to assist eligible children, at least four years old, who need additional preparation to succeed in kindergarten. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will administer these programs, setting rules for eligibility, funding, and minimum standards, including requiring a local early learning needs assessment. School districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools will operate these programs, prioritizing enrollment for low-income families and children most in need, and cannot charge tuition for state-funded participants.
House Bill 1587 encourages local governments, including municipalities, counties, and federally recognized Indian tribes, to establish their own "promise scholarship programs" for Washington students. These local programs will operate within the existing Washington state opportunity scholarship program, which will administer the scholarships, but local governments can set their own student eligibility rules and determine which educational programs to support. The scholarships aim to cover tuition and fees not met by other state aid, with local governments having the option to provide additional funds for expenses like books. The bill also authorizes state matching funds, up to $300,000 per local program annually, to support these efforts and expand access to postsecondary education.
SB 5030 aims to improve access to early learning programs and public schools for children in Washington state. The bill waives the fee for birth certificates for parents or guardians receiving certain public assistance, such as food benefits, when enrolling their child in these educational programs. Additionally, it requires early childhood education programs and public schools to accept alternative documents, including religious certificates, hospital records, or parent affidavits, to verify a child's age for enrollment. These provisions help reduce financial and administrative barriers for families seeking educational services for their children.
HB 1540 expands eligibility for the "students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program" to include accredited public tribal colleges in Washington. This program, previously available only at public four-year institutions, provides assistance to students experiencing homelessness and those who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school. Support services can include access to laundry, storage, reduced-price meals, technology, housing assistance, and case management. Participating institutions are also enabled to develop affordable housing from surplus property and are required to submit annual reports to the legislature on the program's impact.
House Bill 1827 focuses on improving the delivery of basic education services for students involved with the justice system. The bill clarifies the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure effective education and better outcomes for these students. A key provision extends the deadline for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to fully take over responsibility for administering these services from September 1, 2027, to September 1, 2028. It also adjusts the requirement for annual interim progress reports to the governor and legislature, extending them through 2027.
