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

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5442: Establishing a college promise pilot program.

SB 5442 establishes a college promise pilot program in 10 eastern Washington counties (east of the Cascade Mountains) to help students afford postsecondary education. It provides eligible students with up to $5,000 annually for tuition and fees at local institutions, apprenticeships, or credential programs, targeting those graduating from region high schools, meeting income limits (≤150% of state median family income), and participating in mentoring programs. The program is funded through private contributions matched dollar-for-dollar by state funds ($500,000 for 2026, $1,000,000 for 2027), with a separate high school component offering full two-year community college tuition at three selected schools. The pilot program expires August 1, 2029, and requires annual reporting on student outcomes like degree completion and transfers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $5,000/year tuition/fee support for low-income students in eastern WA, expanding postsecondary access through targeted funding and mentorship programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1278: Concerning the role of students on the governing boards of institutions of higher education.

HB 1278 requires community college district governing boards to include one student trustee appointed by the governor from a list provided by student governments. The student trustee serves a one-year term as a full-time student in good academic standing, with voting rights except on faculty hiring or collective bargaining matters. The bill also mandates that student government representatives provide in-person reports at all regular board meetings across Washington’s community colleges and four-year institutions. This policy directly affects community college governance by institutionalizing student voice in decision-making processes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds student representation to community college governing boards, enhancing student voice in higher education governance and decision-making processes.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5386: Supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools.

SB 5386 requires Washington schools to improve support for students who experience sexual assault by creating a youth advisory council to review and recommend changes to reporting policies and training. The bill mandates schools to provide trauma-informed training for staff every three years on responding to abuse disclosures, including bystander intervention. It also requires the state education office to develop a culturally informed, translated student and family guide explaining school policies on sexual misconduct by November 2026. These changes directly affect school staff, students, and families in public K-12 schools, focusing on practical resources rather than new legal obligations. The bill expires August 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates trauma-informed staff training and policy reviews to protect students, directly strengthening school support systems for survivors in K-12 settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5542: Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.

Senate Bill 5542 expands eligibility for tuition waivers at community and technical colleges in Washington state. The bill removes the current age requirement, which states students must be nineteen years or older, to receive these waivers. This change allows any resident-eligible student enrolled in a program to complete their high school education at a community or technical college to potentially receive a full or partial tuition waiver, regardless of their age.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves age barrier for tuition waivers at community colleges, expanding educational access for all eligible high school completers regardless of age.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1352: Providing mentors to novice nurses in the beginning educator support team program.

HB 1352 amends Washington's educator support program to require school districts receiving funds to provide trained mentors for "novice school nurses" (registered or advanced practice nurses in their first three years of school-based roles). The bill expands an existing program for beginning teachers, principals, and staff to include school nurses under the same mentorship requirements. Key provisions mandate districts prioritize these mentors, align with research-based induction standards, and include components like paid orientation, ongoing professional development, and non-evaluative observations. The law applies to school districts receiving competitive state funds for the Beginning Educator Support Team program, which focuses on improving retention and support for new educators. This is not a standalone nurse program but an expansion of an existing educator support framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educator support program to include school nurse mentorship, strengthening staff development within school-based educational environment per existing teacher support framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5693: Concerning teacher residency and apprenticeship programs.

SB 5693 establishes new standards for teacher residency and apprenticeship programs in Washington. It defines teacher residencies as year-long programs pairing new educators with mentor teachers for 900 hours of supervised classroom practice (450 hours for graduate students), requiring school district and teacher prep program partnerships, cohort structures, and mentor stipends. The bill also creates teacher apprenticeship programs for bachelor's degree holders needing no graduate degree, mandating 2,000 hours of mentored teaching. Additionally, it adds a scholarship program for educators entering these pathways who commit to teaching in shortage areas, and plans to rename "residency certificates" to "initial certificates" by 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes teacher residency/apprenticeship programs with mentor stipends, strengthening educator preparation and support through structured training partnerships.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5358: Concerning career and technical education in sixth grade.

Senate Bill 5358 addresses career and technical education (CTE) for sixth-grade students. The bill modifies existing state law concerning the allocation of funding for basic education, specifically related to CTE programs. It aims to integrate sixth grade into the scope of CTE provisions, allowing school districts to offer these programs to younger students. This change could expand early exposure to career-focused learning for sixth-grade students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands CTE access to sixth graders via funding allocation modification, increasing early career education opportunities for students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical 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

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Affordable Housing Homelessness

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1404: Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools.

HB 1404 expands access to free school meals in Washington state by removing income-based eligibility requirements. It mandates that all public school students who request a meal receive it at no cost, regardless of family income, to address food insecurity and support academic success. The bill amends several education funding statutes (including RCW 28A.235.135 and 28A.235.160) to align meal access with this new policy. It directly affects every public school student in Washington, ensuring no child experiences hunger during the school day. The policy change replaces previous tiered eligibility systems with universal free meals for all requesting students.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates universal free school meals requiring state budget reallocation to fund all students' meals without income restrictions, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free meal access for all students regardless of income, directly addressing food insecurity to support academic success and amending education funding statutes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals to address food insecurity, a public health issue, aligning with healthcare support indicators through improved nutrition access for students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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