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

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1351: Adjusting age requirements for accessing the early childhood education and assistance program.

This bill (HB 1351) adjusts the eligibility requirements for children to access Washington's Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). It clarifies that an eligible child must be at least three years old by August 31st of the school year and not yet age-eligible for kindergarten. The bill updates income thresholds for families, shifting from federal poverty levels to state median income percentages over time. Additionally, it expands eligibility to include children experiencing homelessness or those who have participated in other specific early childhood support programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early childhood education access by updating eligibility criteria and income thresholds, directly increasing program availability for more children.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1587: Encouraging local government partner promise scholarship programs within the opportunity scholarship program.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by enabling local scholarship programs within existing opportunity scholarships, covering tuition and allowing local eligibility rules for student support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5025: Concerning educational interpreters.

Substitute Senate Bill 5025 updates the requirements for educational interpreters who assist deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing students in Washington schools. It directs the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to establish new standards, identify assessments, and create a certification system for these interpreters, including separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind interpreters. The bill introduces two types of certificates: a limited certificate for those meeting a basic performance standard, and a full certificate for those meeting a higher standard, with all interpreters generally required to be certified by the 2027-28 school year. It allows for a temporary period where interpreters can continue working while pursuing certification and mandates that the PESB publicly report certification data annually.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes certification standards for educational interpreters, improving support for deaf/hard of hearing students and enhancing educational access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5253: Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.

Senate Bill 5253 extends the eligibility for special education services for students with disabilities in Washington state. Under this bill, services will now continue until the end of the school year in which a student turns 22, rather than 21. This change addresses a federal court ruling that found the state's previous age-out policy violated federal law. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to update an implementation plan by October 2026 to improve transition planning for students with disabilities moving to post-school life.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends special education services until age 22, strengthening access for students with disabilities and complying with federal law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1079: Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.

House Bill 1079 permits school districts with online programs to offer remote testing options for statewide assessments to their students, starting in the 2027-28 school year. This measure aims to reduce travel burdens and costs for students and families enrolled in online education. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is required to develop comprehensive policies by April 1, 2027, to ensure the security and integrity of these remote tests. These policies will address requirements for testing personnel, student-to-proctor ratios, remote testing environments, device specifications, and parental consent.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPermits remote testing for online students, reducing travel burdens and costs to expand access to statewide assessments, aligning with 'expands educational access' indicator.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1167: Directing the statewide career and technical education task force to consider educational opportunities for careers in maritime professions.

House Bill 1167 directs the existing statewide career and technical education task force to specifically consider educational opportunities for careers in maritime professions. The bill expands the task force's mandate, requiring it to develop recommendations for strengthening and expanding access to work-integrated learning, including career and technical education and apprenticeship programs, with a particular focus on the maritime sector. These recommendations will cover aspects like curricula, industry partnerships, educator training, and alignment with postsecondary programs. The aim is to enhance and standardize career and technical education programs to better prepare students for jobs in maritime industries.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects task force to expand CTE access for maritime careers, strengthening educational pathways and work-integrated learning opportunities in career education.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workforce development via CTE/apprenticeships for maritime careers, strengthening employment pathways and skills training per bill's mandate to 'strengthen and expand access'.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5189: Supporting the implementation of competency-based education.

Senate Bill 5189 supports the implementation of competency-based education in Washington state public schools, affecting students, school districts, and state education agencies. It requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt rules by September 1, 2025, to authorize full-time enrollment funding for approved competency-based programs. The bill directs the State Board of Education to develop a process for identifying schools implementing competency-based education and for creating competencies aligned with state learning standards. Additionally, it mandates the development of a competency-based high school transcript format and ensures equitable access to interscholastic activities for students in these programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state funding for competency-based education programs through enrollment funding rules, directing budget allocation to support public education initiatives.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires state funding rules for competency-based education programs, advancing alternative teaching models in K-12 schools through mandated implementation and funding mechanisms.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 5110: Providing tuition waivers for tribal elders at Washington’s community and technical colleges.

SB 5110 allows Washington's community and technical colleges to waive tuition and certain fees for tribal elders. Specifically, it permits colleges to waive all or a portion of tuition and service and activity fees for tribal elders over 55 years old from eligible Indian tribes. This bill directly affects these tribal elders who may seek to enroll in community or technical colleges. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is authorized to adopt rules to implement this provision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for tribal elders by waiving tuition/fees at community colleges, directly increasing enrollment opportunities in higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 24, 2025

HB 1572: Modifying higher education accreditation standards.

HB 1572 modifies higher education accreditation standards in Washington State. It updates the criteria for the state's higher education council to recognize accrediting agencies, requiring them to maintain rigorous standards for institutional quality, student learning, and financial responsibility. The bill also revises the conditions for certain out-of-state nonprofit institutions operating in Washington to be exempt from specific state regulations. Instead of requiring separate accreditation, these institutions must now meet new criteria related to their operating history, continuous accreditation, eligibility for federal student aid, and academic standing.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates accreditation standards to require rigorous institutional quality, student learning, and financial responsibility, strengthening higher education oversight and quality assurance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education