Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5785: Modifying students' share of the education costs at institutions of higher education.

This bill modifies the Washington college grant and college bound scholarship programs, impacting students seeking financial aid for higher education in Washington state. It codifies the maximum eligibility for the Washington college grant to students with family incomes up to 60 percent of the state median family income. The bill also adjusts how maximum grant amounts are calculated for various institutions, including private universities and apprenticeship programs, with some changes taking effect in the 2026-27 academic year. Additionally, it updates criteria for institutional eligibility, specifically for out-of-state affiliated institutions, to participate in these financial aid programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies grant eligibility to include lower-income students (up to 60% median income) and adjusts funding calculations, expanding access to higher education financial aid.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 2050: Implementing K-12 savings and efficiencies.

House Bill 2050 updates the system for providing state local effort assistance funding to K-12 public school districts in Washington. This funding helps supplement local school district levies for educational enrichment programs. The bill modifies how this assistance is calculated, including updating financial thresholds and refining definitions for terms like "eligible school district" and "student enrollment." It also removes temporary provisions related to how student enrollment from prior school years was considered for funding calculations. These changes affect how much state funding school districts receive to support their local education efforts, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUpdates state funding formula for K-12 schools, maintaining supplemental support for public education budgets through revised financial thresholds.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill updates K-12 funding system to maintain state assistance for educational enrichment programs, supplementing local levies without reducing support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5752: Modifying child care and early childhood development programs.

Senate Bill 5752 modifies child care and early childhood development programs for families and young children in Washington State. It extends the full statewide implementation timeline for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) from the 2026-27 school year to the 2030-31 school year. The bill also revises ECEAP eligibility criteria, removing basic food benefits as a standalone qualifier and adding eligibility for Indian children at or below 100% of the state median income. Additionally, it updates the "birth to three" ECEAP pilot project by making its funding subject to appropriation and clarifying eligibility for children under 36 months from low-income families or those receiving basic food benefits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands ECEAP eligibility to include Indian children and removes barriers, increasing access to early childhood education programs, a core education access component.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1651: Concerning teacher residency and apprenticeship programs.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes funded teacher residency programs with 900+ clinical hours, stipends for residents/mentors, and requires school-prep program partnerships, directly strengthening educator preparation and funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5790: Concerning cost-of-living adjustments for community and technical college employees.

SB 5790 changes how annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for academic and classified employees at Washington's community and technical colleges. Previously, these salary increases were based on the consumer price index. Starting with the 2025-2027 budget cycle, the bill switches to using the implicit price deflator, a different economic measure, to determine the COLA rate. This ensures that the state continues to fully fund these adjustments for eligible college staff.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures full state funding for college employee COLAs by switching calculation method, maintaining budget allocation for public education staff.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures full funding for community college employee COLAs, supporting higher education staff compensation and retention within education funding framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures full state funding for COLAs by switching to IPD, protecting employee wages against inflation. Explicitly maintains funding levels for community college staff wages.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes 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 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 · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1393: Providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies.

HB 1393 requires public school districts in Washington state to permit students to wear items or objects of cultural significance with their gowns at high school commencement ceremonies and other official graduation events. This policy applies to all public schools, including charter and state-tribal education compact schools. Students' cultural items must be appropriate for the ceremony and adhere to school district decorum requirements. However, school districts retain the authority to prohibit items that would cause a substantial disruption or material interference with the event.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows cultural expression at graduations, promoting inclusivity and student rights in K-12 settings per bill's explicit requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1540: Expanding eligibility for the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to an accredited tribal college.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands access to support services for homeless/foster youth at tribal colleges, enhancing higher education accessibility for vulnerable students.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands housing assistance program to tribal colleges, directly supporting homeless students' housing needs as part of eligibility expansion.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education