Education

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5134: Requiring public schools to commemorate the contributions of Chinese Americans and Americans of Chinese descent.

SB 5134 requires Washington public schools to dedicate time during January - designated as Chinese American/Americans of Chinese descent history month - for activities commemorating the contributions of Chinese Americans and Americans of Chinese descent. Starting September 1, 2025, school districts must incorporate lessons about the Chinese Exclusion Act and related historical events like the Tacoma method into their social studies curricula. Schools can use a free, state-developed curriculum created by the Washington State Historical Society and a nonprofit, or adapt it for local context. This bill directly affects all public school districts in Washington, mandating specific educational content about this community’s history and achievements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of Chinese American history in social studies curriculum, enhancing educational content and promoting inclusive history education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

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

Sub-Topics Teachers

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5304: Expanding eligibility for the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to an accredited tribal college.

SB 5304 expands Washington's Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Program to include accredited tribal colleges, previously limited to public four-year institutions. The bill requires participating tribal colleges and four-year schools to provide specific supports like laundry access, housing assistance, reduced-price meals, technology resources, and case management for eligible students. It directly affects students who experienced homelessness or were in foster care upon high school graduation, ensuring they can access these services at tribal colleges meeting accreditation standards. The program also mandates annual reporting on participation and program effectiveness to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for homeless/foster youth by including tribal colleges in support program, mandating essential resources (housing, meals, tech) to improve higher education success.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill requires housing assistance for homeless/foster youth students, directly addressing homelessness and expanding housing support through program funding.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires participating institutions to provide technology resources as a mandated support for eligible students, directly advancing digital access and equity for underserved populations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Homelessness

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2082: Increasing funding to the education legacy trust account by creating a more progressive rate structure for the capital gains tax and estate tax.

HB 2082 aims to increase funding for public K-12 education, early learning, child care, and higher education in Washington state. The bill proposes to do this by modifying the state's capital gains tax and estate tax. It introduces an additional 2.90% excise tax on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000, effective January 1, 2025. For the estate tax, it increases the exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025, and intends to raise the top-tier rates up to 35 percent. Revenues generated from these changes would be dedicated to the education legacy trust account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes 2.90% capital gains tax on gains >$1M to fund education, creating progressive tax structure for public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly increases education funding via new capital gains/estate taxes for K-12, early learning, and higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Early Childhood K-12 Education School Funding

Track

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

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5095: Concerning school districts' authority to contract indebtedness for school construction.

This bill allows Washington school districts to issue bonds for school construction under $250,000 without requiring voter approval, streamlining funding for smaller projects. Districts must still secure voter approval for facility levies under RCW 84.52.053 and hold public hearings for bonds exceeding $250,000, including details on purpose, repayment, and terms. The law modifies existing debt authority (RCW 28A.530.080) to remove voter approval requirements for smaller bond issuances while maintaining transparency measures. It directly affects school districts managing capital projects, enabling faster access to funds for construction, modernization, or remodeling.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves voter approval barriers for small school construction bonds, facilitating infrastructure funding and project efficiency under $250k.95% confidence

Track

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 5272: Improving school safety by extending penalties for interference by, or intimidation by threat of, force or violence at schools and extracurricular activities and requiring schools to notify the public of such penalties.

SB 5272 strengthens school safety by increasing penalties for threatening or using force/violence against school staff, students, or athletic officials (like referees) during school activities. It requires schools to post clear signage at entrances and athletic venues explaining these penalties, including fines up to $1,000 or up to 364 days in jail for adults, plus 12-18 months exclusion from school or events. For students, it mandates immediate removal during incidents and up to a 12-month exclusion from athletic activities. The bill directly affects all public/private school staff, students, and volunteers in athletic settings by making intimidation or violence a serious misdemeanor with specific, enforced consequences.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for school-related offenses, expanding criminalization without reform elements; aligns with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens school safety by increasing penalties for violence/threats against staff/students, directly protecting the educational environment per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections School Safety

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5087: Establishing legal education programs at community and technical colleges.

SB 5087 requires Columbia Basin College, Yakima Valley College, and Walla Walla College to offer prelaw associate's degree programs if funding is approved. It also creates a program to financially support community colleges in eastern Washington (east of the Cascades) to establish new, American Bar Association-approved paralegal programs in regions without them, aiming for one program in central Washington and one in eastern Washington. The bill directly affects these colleges and students seeking legal education pathways in underserved areas. Funding availability is a key condition for both provisions. The legislation focuses on expanding accessible legal education opportunities through community colleges.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly seeks state funding for community college legal programs, requesting budget appropriations to establish new educational services, aligning with funding essential public programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds new ABA-approved paralegal programs at community colleges to expand educational access in underserved regions, directly advancing higher education opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5327: Concerning learning standards and graduation requirements.

SB 5327 directs the State Board of Education and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to review and update learning standards and graduation requirements concerning computer science and financial education for K-12 students. The State Board of Education must recommend adjustments to high school graduation requirements to ensure students can demonstrate foundational skills in these subjects, considering various credit and competency options. Concurrently, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will update K-12 computer science learning standards and review financial education standards. The bill also requires the State Board to collect information from school districts on their current offerings and implementation needs for these subjects, and clarifies that school districts must provide all high school students opportunities to access financial education learning standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects updates to computer science/financial education standards and graduation requirements to ensure foundational skills, strengthening curriculum content for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5193: Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.

Senate Bill 5193 supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs in Washington state, directly affecting these students, their families, and participating school districts. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, school districts with online programs may offer students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely. To implement this, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must develop or update assessment administration and security policies by April 1, 2027. These policies will cover requirements for testing personnel, student-to-proctor ratios, remote testing environments, device and network specifications, and parental consent. The bill aims to reduce burdens on families and ensure equitable access to assessments for online learners.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables remote testing for online students, expanding access to statewide assessments without restricting options, aligning with enhanced educational access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

Track