Education

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5193: Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.

Senate Bill 5193 supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs in Washington state, directly affecting these students, their families, and participating school districts. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, school districts with online programs may offer students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely. To implement this, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must develop or update assessment administration and security policies by April 1, 2027. These policies will cover requirements for testing personnel, student-to-proctor ratios, remote testing environments, device and network specifications, and parental consent. The bill aims to reduce burdens on families and ensure equitable access to assessments for online learners.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables remote testing for online students, expanding access to statewide assessments without restricting options, aligning with enhanced educational access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5297: Concerning the early learning facilities grant and loan program.

SB 5297 modifies the early learning facilities grant and loan program, which supports facilities providing care for children aged one month through 12 years. The bill renames the program's accounts and clarifies their uses, including funding for early childhood education and assistance programs. It removes the mandatory matching fund requirement for applicants experiencing financial hardship and introduces emergency grants for facilities affected by natural disasters or health and safety threats. The bill also expands eligibility to include Tribal compact schools and allows the Department of Commerce to contract with private-public partnerships to administer grants and loans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves financial barriers for facilities, adds emergency grants, and clarifies funding for early childhood education programs serving children 1 month-12 years.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 2049: Investing in the state's paramount duty to fund K-12 education and build strong and safe communities.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises property tax authority and school funding formula to increase K-12 education funding via inflation-linked per-pupil limits, directly enhancing public service budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to 'enhance funding for K-12 education' through revised property tax authority, per-pupil limits with inflation adjustments, and updated school funding formula.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5009: Modifying the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.

SB 5009 modifies the student transportation allocation system for school districts in Washington state. It encourages districts to use various vehicle types, including school buses and other vehicles like district-owned passenger cars, for student transportation if deemed safe and cost-effective. The bill updates reporting requirements for districts to include miles driven per vehicle type and directs the superintendent of public instruction (SPI) to calculate transportation allocations based on all vehicle types used. Additionally, the SPI will establish minimum categories and competitive specifications for all student transportation vehicles to guide reimbursement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows flexible transportation options to maintain student access, supporting operational efficiency for school districts.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill modifies student transportation allocation to allow flexible vehicle use (buses, cars) for safety/cost, updating reporting to optimize existing transportation resources within the framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5194: Concerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.

SB 5194 authorizes the state of Washington to issue nearly $4.7 billion in general obligation bonds. These bonds will finance various state capital projects outlined in the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia and future biennia. The proceeds are deposited into state building construction accounts and then transferred to specific accounts, including those for outdoor recreation, habitat conservation, farm and forest preservation, and early learning facilities. The state pledges its full faith and credit for repayment, using general state revenues to cover the principal and interest on these bonds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $4.7B in bonds to fund capital projects including recreation, conservation, and education facilities, advancing state budget priorities through targeted appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early learning facilities, a direct educational infrastructure investment under bond proceeds for state capital projects.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds habitat conservation, farm/forest preservation, and outdoor recreation accounts from bond proceeds, directly advancing environmental protection priorities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1709: Addressing the care of students with adrenal insufficiency by parent-designated adults.

HB 1709 authorizes trained, parent-designated adults to provide care, including administering emergency medication, to students with adrenal insufficiency in Washington public schools. The bill requires school districts to develop individual health plans for these students and adopt policies for their care, such as medication storage and emergency procedures. Parent-designated adults must volunteer, be authorized by the student's parents, and complete specific training. This legislation also extends liability protection to school districts, employees, and these designated adults who act in good faith according to the student's health plan. This measure aims to ensure students with adrenal insufficiency receive necessary medical support when a school nurse is not available.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates school health protocols for students with medical needs, ensuring educational access and safety in schools through required individual health plans and trained personnel.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures access to emergency medication for students with adrenal insufficiency via trained parent-designated adults and mandates school health plans, directly improving patient access to critical care services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 5263: Concerning special education funding.

Senate Bill 5263 modifies how special education programs are funded in Washington state, directly affecting local school districts and students with disabilities. The bill increases the state's funding multipliers used to calculate excess costs for special education students, including a higher multiplier for younger students and a new single multiplier for older students, while also removing a previous enrollment cap on these allocations. Additionally, it revises the criteria for "safety net" funding, removing a provision that considered extraordinary costs related to community demographics, and continues to focus on high-cost needs for individual students. This bill was signed by the Governor on May 19, 2025, and becomes effective on July 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases state funding multipliers for special education, removes enrollment caps, and adds higher funding for younger students with disabilities, directly advancing educational access and resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5769: Addressing transition to kindergarten programs.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFormalizes transition to kindergarten programs, requiring early learning assessments to support student readiness and access for eligible children.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5192: Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.

This bill updates the formula for allocating state funding to support basic education in Washington state school districts. It outlines how funds are distributed based on the resources needed for "prototypical" elementary, middle, and high schools. The formula specifies minimum staffing levels for classroom teachers, including average class sizes for various grades and subjects, and allocations for other essential school staff like principals and support personnel. Additionally, it mandates the Superintendent of Public Instruction to report per-pupil allocations for different programs to enhance transparency, while generally allowing districts flexibility in how they use these funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill updates state funding formula for public schools, mandating minimum staffing/class size allocations which requires increased budget allocation for education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates state funding formula for basic education, specifies minimum teacher staffing/class sizes, and allocates funds for essential school staff per bill summary.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 5543: Providing equity in eligibility for the college bound scholarship.

Senate Bill 5543 aims to provide equity in eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship program in Washington state. The bill standardizes how eligible students can meet the high school graduation requirement by confirming that receiving a high school equivalency certificate is a valid pathway for all scholarship recipients. It removes a previous specific provision that separately allowed certain dependent or adopted students to use this certificate, thereby streamlining the requirements. This

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves eligibility barriers for high school equivalency certificate holders, expanding access to college scholarship program for all students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education