Roundup of Ed Bills Still Alive at the Legislature
I'll put a notation by each of these; please consider contacting your legislative reps for your support or rejection of each bill.
From the Seattle Times:
Restraint and isolation (HB 1240)
Sponsors: Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle
What it would do: Prohibit physically restraining or secluding special-needs students except in emergencies.
The latest: Passed House, 68-29
What’s next: Awaits action in the Senate, where a similar bill has passed several committees.
Editor's note: this is vital bill to get passed - contact your senator
Substitute teaching in retirement (HB 1737)
Sponsors: Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama
What it would do: Expands how many hours retired teachers can substitute without losing pension payments.
The latest: Passed House, 97-1
What’s next: Referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Schools across Washington are reporting a shortage of substitute teachers, leaving principals to fill in and sometimes forcing them to cancel teacher training when subs can’t be found. Some say the state’s pension policy may be partly to blame — some retired teachers can lose their monthly pension check if they substitute teach even one day.
Editor's note: this is vital bill to get passed. Our own district has a problem with finding subs. Contact your senator.
Homeless students (HB 1436, SB 5404)
Sponsors: Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Seattle and Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-University Place
What it would do: Creates an office to coordinate homeless programs statewide.
The latest: Passed House, 62-36; passed Senate, 48-1
What’s next: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services is scheduled to vote the Senate’s version of the bill on March 26.
Editor's note: seems like a no-brainer to have a one-stop shop for these services (probably would save money as well). Contact your Senator (but it looks like the vote is today).
College programs (HB 1031)
Sponsors: Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima
What it would do: Would expand college-in-the-high-school program to include 10th graders.
The latest: Passed House, 96-1
What’s next: Awaits action in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.
Editor's note: seems like a good idea; not sure how districts will feel as they lose money when high school kids take classes out of school.
Teacher evaluations (SB 5748)
Sponsors: Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island
What it would do: Mandates schools use student scores on state tests to measure teacher and principal effectiveness.
The latest: Passed Senate, 26-23
What’s next: Awaits action in the House Education Committee, where a similar bill has stalled.
Teacher evaluations have been a sticking point in Washington, which last year became the first state to lose its waiver from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind because lawmakers here refused to pass a similar bill. The state, as a result, lost control over how to spend about $40 million in federal money aimed at helping the state’s most disadvantaged children. The state’s largest teachers union opposes the bill.
Editor's note: No, no and did I mention? No. It should be called the Bully Bill (are we doing this just to placate Arne Duncan or for a real academic purpose?) or Opening Pandora's Box (because it's a foot in the door for ever larger uses of test scores for teacher evaluations which is not based on any sound research AND is reliant on a new testing instrument (SBAC) AND based on an old federal law that is just now being rewritten.
If there's one bill to contact your legislator on, this is it.
Early learning (HB 1491, SB 5452)
Sponsors: Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Seattle and Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island
What it would do: Would restrict state subsidies to preschools and day cares with high marks on state’s rating system.
The latest: Passed House, 67-31; passed Senate, 39-10
What’s next: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services is scheduled to vote on the Senate’s version of the bill on March 26
Under this law, any child care center that wants to receive state subsidies must participate in the state’s Early Achievers rating system. The proposal is an attempt to ensure preschool and other child care centers are high quality. The Early Achievers program has, until now, been supported with a large federal Race to the Top grant slated to run out this year.
Editor's note: on the one hand, this bill appears to strive for better pre-k service providers but, on the other side, where's the money coming from to keep the Early Achievers program that these providers are being measured by?
WSU medical school (HB 1559)
Sponsors: Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane
What it would do: Allows Washington State University to start a medical school
The latest: Passed House, 81-17; passed Senate, 47-1
What’s next: The measure now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature
This bill would clear the way for Washington State University to pursue accreditation for its own medical school, though University of Washington officials say they fear that another medical school could draw faculty, students and state funding away from its multi-state medical school program. Not clear yet is whether the Legislature will also provide the funding necessary for the WSU medical school to go forward.
Editor's note: Just dumb. With competition for public ed dollars, this is really the last thing higher ed in this state needs.
Reduce college tuition (SB 5954)
Sponsors: Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia
What it would do: Cuts tuition in the state’s public universities and community colleges
The latest: Passed Senate, 37-12
What’s next: A public hearing in the House higher education committee is scheduled for March 26
Editor's note: I have not read this bill. Naturally, on the face of it, it may be a good idea but the devil's in the details. Anyone?
Computer science education (HB 1813)
Sponsors: Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, and Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah
What it would do: Require Washington to adopt computer science learning standards
The latest: Passed House, 91-7
What’s next: Awaiting action in the Senate
Editor's note: I believe in this bill because it has bi-partisan support. I think it will complicate things as districts may struggle to fit this in.
A few other bills that made the news earlier this year have died, including proposals to allow Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to appoint some school board members, to split Seattle Public Schools into two districts, to eliminate new Common Core learning standards and to require a simple majority — instead of a two-thirds vote — to pass school construction bonds.
Editor's note: very disappointed on the last bill failing. Districts need to be able to get more work done on over-taxed school buildings. The first two were just dumb.
From the Seattle Times:
Restraint and isolation (HB 1240)
Sponsors: Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle
What it would do: Prohibit physically restraining or secluding special-needs students except in emergencies.
The latest: Passed House, 68-29
What’s next: Awaits action in the Senate, where a similar bill has passed several committees.
Editor's note: this is vital bill to get passed - contact your senator
Substitute teaching in retirement (HB 1737)
Sponsors: Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama
What it would do: Expands how many hours retired teachers can substitute without losing pension payments.
The latest: Passed House, 97-1
What’s next: Referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Schools across Washington are reporting a shortage of substitute teachers, leaving principals to fill in and sometimes forcing them to cancel teacher training when subs can’t be found. Some say the state’s pension policy may be partly to blame — some retired teachers can lose their monthly pension check if they substitute teach even one day.
Editor's note: this is vital bill to get passed. Our own district has a problem with finding subs. Contact your senator.
Homeless students (HB 1436, SB 5404)
Sponsors: Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Seattle and Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-University Place
What it would do: Creates an office to coordinate homeless programs statewide.
The latest: Passed House, 62-36; passed Senate, 48-1
What’s next: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services is scheduled to vote the Senate’s version of the bill on March 26.
Editor's note: seems like a no-brainer to have a one-stop shop for these services (probably would save money as well). Contact your Senator (but it looks like the vote is today).
College programs (HB 1031)
Sponsors: Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima
What it would do: Would expand college-in-the-high-school program to include 10th graders.
The latest: Passed House, 96-1
What’s next: Awaits action in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.
Editor's note: seems like a good idea; not sure how districts will feel as they lose money when high school kids take classes out of school.
Teacher evaluations (SB 5748)
Sponsors: Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island
What it would do: Mandates schools use student scores on state tests to measure teacher and principal effectiveness.
The latest: Passed Senate, 26-23
What’s next: Awaits action in the House Education Committee, where a similar bill has stalled.
Teacher evaluations have been a sticking point in Washington, which last year became the first state to lose its waiver from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind because lawmakers here refused to pass a similar bill. The state, as a result, lost control over how to spend about $40 million in federal money aimed at helping the state’s most disadvantaged children. The state’s largest teachers union opposes the bill.
Editor's note: No, no and did I mention? No. It should be called the Bully Bill (are we doing this just to placate Arne Duncan or for a real academic purpose?) or Opening Pandora's Box (because it's a foot in the door for ever larger uses of test scores for teacher evaluations which is not based on any sound research AND is reliant on a new testing instrument (SBAC) AND based on an old federal law that is just now being rewritten.
If there's one bill to contact your legislator on, this is it.
Sponsors: Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Seattle and Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island
What it would do: Would restrict state subsidies to preschools and day cares with high marks on state’s rating system.
The latest: Passed House, 67-31; passed Senate, 39-10
What’s next: House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services is scheduled to vote on the Senate’s version of the bill on March 26
Under this law, any child care center that wants to receive state subsidies must participate in the state’s Early Achievers rating system. The proposal is an attempt to ensure preschool and other child care centers are high quality. The Early Achievers program has, until now, been supported with a large federal Race to the Top grant slated to run out this year.
Editor's note: on the one hand, this bill appears to strive for better pre-k service providers but, on the other side, where's the money coming from to keep the Early Achievers program that these providers are being measured by?
WSU medical school (HB 1559)
Sponsors: Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane
What it would do: Allows Washington State University to start a medical school
The latest: Passed House, 81-17; passed Senate, 47-1
What’s next: The measure now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature
This bill would clear the way for Washington State University to pursue accreditation for its own medical school, though University of Washington officials say they fear that another medical school could draw faculty, students and state funding away from its multi-state medical school program. Not clear yet is whether the Legislature will also provide the funding necessary for the WSU medical school to go forward.
Editor's note: Just dumb. With competition for public ed dollars, this is really the last thing higher ed in this state needs.
Sponsors: Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia
What it would do: Cuts tuition in the state’s public universities and community colleges
The latest: Passed Senate, 37-12
What’s next: A public hearing in the House higher education committee is scheduled for March 26
Editor's note: I have not read this bill. Naturally, on the face of it, it may be a good idea but the devil's in the details. Anyone?
Computer science education (HB 1813)
Sponsors: Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, and Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah
What it would do: Require Washington to adopt computer science learning standards
The latest: Passed House, 91-7
What’s next: Awaiting action in the Senate
Editor's note: I believe in this bill because it has bi-partisan support. I think it will complicate things as districts may struggle to fit this in.
A few other bills that made the news earlier this year have died, including proposals to allow Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to appoint some school board members, to split Seattle Public Schools into two districts, to eliminate new Common Core learning standards and to require a simple majority — instead of a two-thirds vote — to pass school construction bonds.
Editor's note: very disappointed on the last bill failing. Districts need to be able to get more work done on over-taxed school buildings. The first two were just dumb.
Comments
The state has consistently stated that adding more funding to existing system will not close the opportunity gap and the legislature will have a hard time funding McCleary.
My prediction: We will see the definition of Basic Education change in 2018.
Makes me think legislature is going to try to weasel out of this, again, this session.
EdVoter
Agreed. And the budget information embargo does not build trust in the Legislators' motivations and strategy. It's more "This makes sense. Vote NOW!" Don't look behind the curtain.
Both are GREAT things BUT the state and the Constitution fund K-12. I just don't want to see the focus taken off of that and I see LEV and others trying to do just that.
CT
*all of you who behave, speak English, don't have disabilities, have internet access to get the application, have families who can transport you & provide your own lunch, take tests well, have families easily swayed by propaganda so they will picket for more charter schools at the Capitol on a school day....
Thanks Melissa Westbrook your article is very informative.
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