Education

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5164: Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment.

SB 5164 proposes creating a state-funded program to place "postsecondary enrollment specialists" in high schools across Washington, working at a 1:600 ratio with seniors. These specialists will directly assist students - especially those from lower-income backgrounds - with completing financial aid applications (like FAFSA and WASFA), connecting to scholarships, and navigating college enrollment processes. The bill requires school districts to partner with community colleges, tribal organizations, or community groups to hire these specialists and mandates free training for school staff on financial aid. It also requires annual reports tracking how the program increases financial aid completion rates and enrollment, targeting schools with historically low application rates. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationState-funded program creates enrollment specialists to assist students with financial aid and college navigation, specifically targeting lower-income students to expand postsecondary access and enrollment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1832: Improving student performance and success.

HB 1832 aims to improve student performance in Washington state by focusing on evidence-based literacy and math instruction, primarily affecting public schools, students in grades K-4, and educators. It mandates schools to implement science-based reading programs by 2027-28 (emphasizing phonics, fluency, and comprehension), prohibits guessing-word methods, and requires hiring reading coaches in elementary schools. The bill allocates $250 per eligible student (adjusted for inflation) to school districts for targeted support, calculated based on the percentage of students not meeting grade-level standards in math and English language arts. Additionally, it updates teacher training standards to align with the science of reading and requires the superintendent to monitor school compliance with new literacy requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $250/student for literacy programs, directly funding public education services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based literacy programs, allocates $250/student funding, requires reading coaches - directly strengthens K-4 education through targeted instruction and resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2026: Creating the fairness in education funding act.

HB 2026, the "Fairness in Education Funding Act," aims to create equitable school funding by replacing local levies (which disproportionately benefit wealthier districts) with uniform state-funded allocations. The bill sets new minimum state salary levels for school staff that will apply equally to all public school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools starting in the 2026-27 school year. Specifically, it establishes baseline salaries of $100,033 (adjusted for inflation) for certificated instructional staff, $179,857 for certificated administrative staff, and $71,082 for classified staff. Regional adjustments to these salaries will phase out after the 2025-26 school year, ensuring all districts receive identical state funding for staff compensation regardless of location or local wealth.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReplaces local levies with uniform state-funded allocations, mandating increased state budget expenditure for equitable education salaries.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces inequitable local levies with uniform state funding and sets $100,033+ baseline salaries for all school staff, directly advancing equitable funding and teacher compensation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes $100,033 baseline salary for all school staff, directly increasing wages and setting uniform employment standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5270: Providing mentors to novice nurses in the beginning educator support team program.

SB 5270 expands Washington's existing Beginning Educator Support Team Program to include novice school nurses as direct participants requiring mentorship. It requires school districts receiving program funds to provide trained mentors to registered nurses or advanced practice nurses in their first three years of school-based roles. The bill mandates that districts prioritize these novice school nurses for the same structured mentorship components already used for new teachers and principals, including paid orientation, assigned mentors for up to three years, and professional development. This change directly affects school districts securing program funding and the novice school nurses employed by those districts. The bill does not create a new program but integrates school nurses into the current educator support framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands mentorship program to include novice school nurses, prioritizing them for structured support like new teachers, strengthening educator support infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mentorship for school nurses, improving professional development and student health services in schools per bill's mandate for novice nurse support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1580: Concerning career and technical education in alternative learning experience programs.

HB 1580 changes how Washington state funds career-focused high school courses in alternative learning programs. It requires school districts to calculate funding separately for each student in these programs based on the standard per-student allocation for grades 9-12 general education, excluding small high school enhancements. The bill also adds extra state funding specifically for vocational courses within these alternative programs. This directly affects school districts offering career and technical education in non-traditional learning settings, ensuring they receive dedicated funding aligned with vocational program needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill adds extra state funding for vocational courses in alternative learning programs, increasing government spending on career education. This directly funds essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds extra state funding specifically for vocational courses in alternative learning programs, directly advancing career-focused education initiatives within K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education School Funding

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5483: Preserving history and heritage education.

SB 5483 prohibits Washington school districts from censoring or restricting instruction about U.S. or Washington state history and heritage when using original source documents containing religious references. The bill specifically protects teaching from 13 listed historical materials, including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Gettysburg Address, Pledge of Allegiance, and Northwest Ordinance. It directly affects public school districts by requiring them to teach these documents without removing or altering religious content. The law aims to preserve the full historical context of foundational American texts in classroom instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly prohibits censorship of historical curriculum, protecting teaching of specified documents like Declaration of Independence and Constitution in public schools.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1035: Creating policies and resources to address secondary traumatic stress in the higher education workforce.

HB 1035 requires Washington's public community colleges, technical colleges, and regional universities to adopt policies addressing secondary traumatic stress among faculty and staff. It mandates developing model policies with specific elements, including mental health support, diversity-focused workplace climates, campus mental health committees, and annual reporting. Institutions must post these policies publicly by September 2025 and incorporate all required elements into their own policies by the start of the 2025-26 academic year. The bill also requires colleges to publish online links to mental health resources, self-assessment tools, and best practices for their workforce.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health support and diversity-focused policies for higher education staff, strengthening workforce well-being and retention in educational institutions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health support services as required policy element for college staff, directly advancing mental health resources in workplace settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates mental health support and safe workplace policies for faculty/staff, directly advancing workplace safety standards under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Testing & Assessment Mental Health

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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

Sub-Topics Special Education

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1751: Establishing a sales and use tax exemption for required course materials at public institutions of higher education.

HB 1751 exempts required course materials (like textbooks and digital resources) from Washington state sales and use taxes for students enrolled at public colleges and universities. It requires students to show valid enrollment proof at approved vendors (campus bookstores or institution-designated online sellers) to qualify for the exemption. Public institutions must inform students about this tax break via their websites and course syllabi. The bill directly affects all students at Washington’s public higher education institutions by reducing out-of-pocket costs for essential learning materials, which the legislature notes are increasingly unaffordable (65% of students skip buying textbooks due to cost).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts required course materials from sales tax, providing tax relief for students at public institutions, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income groups.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts required course materials from sales tax, reducing costs for higher education students and improving access to educational resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Higher Education

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signed · Washington · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1570: Concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

HB 1570 grants collective bargaining rights to student employees (those enrolled in academic or certificate programs) at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It defines specific bargaining topics, including tuition remission and waivers, while excluding issues like academic calendars, tuition amounts, student admissions, and termination based on academic performance. Compensation agreements must align with legislative budget limits, though institutions may offer additional pay beyond these limits. The bill applies only to employees not already covered by other collective bargaining laws at these institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants student employees bargaining rights for tuition remission/waivers at public universities, enhancing affordability and access to higher education.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights to student employees, a core labor right, defining negotiable topics like tuition remission while excluding non-labor issues.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining