Washington Legislature and Youth/Education Bills

The Legislature and its short session are in full swing with March 1 being the deadline for bills to pass the entire opposite chamber and March 8th the last day of the session. These bills look on their way for a vote:

HB 2331 known casually as the "say no to book bans" that would prohibit school board from non-approval of educational materials if they relate to a particular group that is also a protected class (as set-up by the district's non-discrimination policy).  Its creators include Seattle's Macri and Pollet.

HB 2494 would increase per pupil levels for all kinds of things - materials, supplies and operations - the state prototypical funding formula. This appears to have bipartisan support but some feel it does little to address inequities in the current formula.

HB 1541 "establishing the Nothing ABout Us Without Us Act" 

The legislature intends to ensure meaningful participation from people with direct lived experience on each statutorily created or statutorily mandated multimember task force, work group, or advisory committee, tasked with examining and reporting to the legislature on policies or issues that directly and tangibly affect historically underrepresented communities.

HB1915 that would make learning about finances a graduation requirement

HB 2180 to increase the Special Education enrollment funding cap ( there are several funding bills around Special Education)

HB 1479 around the use of restraint/isolation of students in public schools

SB 5851 received a lot of attention. It is "Concerning Holocaust and genocide education in public schools." The issue seems to be a fear of diluting down the history of the Holocaust vs making sure that students understand there have been other genocides in modern history. 

SB 5883 about "the burden of proof" for Special Education due process hearings.

SB 5774 for background checks for childcare employees as well as other programs.

SB 6038 to curb the costs of providing childcare

SB 5789 concerning funding for school construction projects

SB 6031 to allow for multiple vehicle types to transport students

SB 5908 to allow foster care services to extend until age 21

There were other bills:

-  about indebtedness and school districts

- transferring the state superintendent as the chair and administrator of the state board of Education

- paying school board directors more money

- "mandating instruction on agricultural literacy for students in grades 7-12"

- supporting computer science programs in Washington grade schools.

- creation of a "running start" for the trades program 

 

Meanwhile, this has not been a great session (or year) for charter schools in Washington State. 

First, under the charter law there could be 40 schools by 2021 but the movement ever got past opening about 20 of them. The charter school movement in Washington State just never took off. Is the law tough? Maybe but I also wonder about parent enthusiasm for charters. A bill to extend the timeline to open 40 schools by 2021 (there are only 18 now) also died.

Two bills in to increase state grant funding for charter schools failed as well.

The Seattle Times has a story on the charter school opened by Russell Wilson and his wife via their foundation. Not good news. 

When it opened in 2021, the small charter high school promised a community dedicated to giving marginalized students a leg up in the working world. Russell Wilson, then-quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, and Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara, his wife, donated $1.65 million, visiting a handful of times. 

But after just three years, its future is uncertain. 

In recent months, more than a dozen former students and staff have come forward alleging a chaotic and toxic culture at the school. They accuse its leadership of unprofessionalism, driving out educators and ignoring concerns about educational quality.  

Since September, the school has lost a third of its students and staff, and administrators are working to stave off closure. Much of the original staff, including the founders, are no longer there

The Why Not You Foundation, which is the school’s primary private sponsor, did not make anyone available for an interview for this story.

 

In a crossover story for me (Washington State to Arizona), Rachel Dolezal, who said she was Black when she wasn't, was fired from her teaching job in the Catalina Foothills School District. She has violated the district's policy on use of social media by employees. 

Folks, Catalina Foothills is here in Tucson and it is considered a great school district. Dolezal had taken on a new name so maybe that's how she got the job in the first place.