SB 5872 creates the "preK promise account" to fund Washington's early childhood education and assistance program. The account, managed by the state treasurer, accepts gifts, grants, and donations specifically for this program, with funds tracked separately by donor. It prohibits leftover funds from reverting to the general state budget at the end of each biennium. The bill ensures dedicated, ongoing support for early childhood education services without requiring annual legislative appropriations.
SB 6351 would exempt specific educational and childcare services from Washington state sales tax. It targets schools, before-and-after school care programs, and arts/cultural classes for children and students. The bill amends tax law to remove sales tax on purchases for these services, directly increasing funding available to qualifying programs. This policy change provides immediate fiscal relief to schools and childcare providers by reducing their operational costs.
SB 5956 prohibits Washington public schools from using artificial intelligence (AI) or surveillance technologies to make or solely determine student discipline decisions, such as suspensions or expulsions. It bans "risk scores" predicting student misconduct, biometric tracking for emotional/mental health analysis, and automated watchlists, requiring human review for any discipline action involving AI or surveillance data. The law directly affects all K-12 public school districts, charter schools, and tribal education programs in Washington, mandating updates to policies to prevent discriminatory impacts on students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students. It also restricts sharing student data with law enforcement except in emergencies involving imminent serious physical harm.
SB 5961 transfers Washington's Imagination Library program - providing free monthly books to children from birth to age five - from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bill requires the new administrator (a Washington-based nonprofit) to manage program operations, establish local affiliate programs, and partner with a national foundation to deliver books at no cost to families. Funding will come from a 50% payment by the nonprofit to the national foundation and the remaining cost from affiliate programs, with the Superintendent allowed to seek private donations. This change affects eligible children, local affiliates, and the nonprofit managing the program, streamlining oversight under education leadership.
SB 5992 creates a state-funded account to support youth development programs for Washington youth aged 5-24, prioritizing underserved communities. The fund, financed by public and private contributions, will provide grants to nonprofits, tribal organizations, parks departments, and community partners to offer after-school programs, mentorship, career navigation, and culturally relevant activities. It requires equitable geographic distribution of funds and prioritizes youth facing systemic barriers, including those in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or from low-income backgrounds. Grants must be reported annually on program impacts, with tribal consultation required for projects affecting Native communities.
SB 6247 requires educational service districts to provide financial support to school districts showing signs of financial distress, including regular meetings with district leadership to create action plans and address budget issues. It mandates that school board members complete annual governance training focused on funding, budgeting, and fiscal accountability, with the training developed by the Washington State School Directors' Association. The bill also establishes a requirement for educational service district staff to report suspected financial misconduct to state auditors and the attorney general. By January 2027, the state superintendent must define "financial distress" using measurable indicators to guide oversight.
SB 5985 requires the University of Washington (with Washington State University and stakeholders) to create an online resource center by July 1, 2028, providing evidence-based materials on endometriosis diagnosis, care, and communication tools for healthcare providers. It also mandates that Washington’s Office of Public Instruction update school health education standards to include menstrual health awareness, helping students recognize symptoms that may indicate endometriosis. The online resource center must be updated every three years and expire December 31, 2031, while the school curriculum changes expire June 30, 2029. This bill directly affects residents with endometriosis, healthcare systems, and public school students across Washington state.
SB 6222 allows Washington school districts to prioritize distributing surplus technology hardware (like laptops and tablets) to public school students, especially those from low-income families. It amends state law to require districts to first offer these devices for sale at reduced cost or free grant to students before selling them to others, with low-income families getting first priority. The bill defines "low-income" as families qualifying for free/reduced meals or earning ≤185% of the federal poverty level. This creates a clear process for schools to repurpose unused tech instead of selling it broadly, directly helping students who lack home devices for learning.
SB 5828 adjusts the maximum Washington College Grant amount for students attending private four-year nonprofit institutions in Washington. Currently capped at $9,739 for 2019-20 (with annual increases limited by tuition growth), the grant will change starting in 2026-27 to equal 50% of the average award given to students at public four-year institutions. This directly affects students enrolled at qualifying private nonprofit colleges in Washington, ensuring their grant amount aligns with public institution funding trends. The bill amends existing grant program rules without altering eligibility for the separate College Bound Scholarship program.
This bill amends Washington's school construction funding formula to specifically exclude military base school facilities from a district's available space count when calculating state assistance. It directly affects school districts operating schools on military bases, ensuring these facilities don't reduce their eligibility for state construction funds. The key change modifies the funding formula to treat on-base schools separately, potentially increasing their state funding share by not counting these spaces against their capacity. This adjustment aims to better support districts with military-connected students under the state's school construction program.
