HB 1943 requires Washington public high schools (grades 9-12) to include blood donation awareness instruction in at least one required health class starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill directs schools to use programs from approved organizations like the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest, which must be posted on the state education website. It also allows schools serving grades K-8 to offer age-appropriate versions of this instruction. The bill aims to educate students about blood donation’s life-saving impact and eligibility, complementing existing health education without mandating certified staff delivery.
Washington's SB 5080 requires all public high school students to complete financial education instruction to graduate, beginning with the 2033 class. School districts must provide courses aligned with existing state learning standards by the 2029-30 school year, offering flexible options like regular classes, online learning, or career programs. The bill mandates districts to submit implementation plans by December 2025 and allows individual waivers for students who moved to Washington after previous graduation requirements were met. This applies to all Washington public high schools, including charter and tribal schools, without creating new curriculum but making existing financial education standards a graduation requirement.
HB 1746 adjusts how Washington state provides supplemental funding to public schools based on local property tax levies. It calculates state assistance by comparing a school district's actual levy rate (per $1,000 assessed value) to a $1.50 threshold, with full funding for districts meeting or exceeding that rate. The bill extends this formula to tribal schools (starting 2022) and charter schools (starting 2025), capping per-student assistance at $2,000 (adjusted for inflation) based on prior-year levy data. This funding is separate from the state's basic education program and directly affects school districts, tribal education compact schools, and charter schools that rely on local levies.
HB 1241 requires Washington school districts to improve transparency and timeliness in special education evaluations for students with disabilities. It mandates that districts provide parents with clear, translated information about evaluation processes and timelines (including a 22-day decision window after referrals and a 60-day evaluation window after consent), track and publicly report processing times by disability category, and use standardized templates for parent communications. The bill also ensures parents receive language-accessible materials and quarterly service reports for quantifiable special education services, while prohibiting multitiered systems from delaying evaluations. These changes directly affect students with disabilities, their families, and school districts across Washington State.
SB 5007 creates a statewide program to support students missing 10% or more of school days (chronically absent) and at risk of not graduating high school. It requires educational service districts to train staff on early warning systems to identify at-risk students and connect them with supports like family engagement, health services, academic help, and transportation. The bill establishes a "Building Bridges" grant program for local school-family-community partnerships to implement dropout prevention systems, including data-driven interventions, mentorship, and alternative education options. These partnerships must collect and report data on student demographics, attendance, graduation rates, and outcomes to track effectiveness. The law aims to improve reengagement and graduation rates through coordinated, evidence-based support for vulnerable students.
HB 1863 requires all Washington school districts to develop cardiac emergency response plans by the 2025-26 school year, directly affecting schools, staff, students, and participants in athletic events. The plan must include designated response teams (staff, coaches, nurses), AED placement within three minutes of cardiac events, annual staff training in CPR/AED use, and coordination with local emergency services. Schools must update plans yearly and maintain AEDs per manufacturer guidelines, with clear signage. The bill also creates a grant program prioritizing schools with high student poverty rates (50%+ on free/reduced lunch) to fund AEDs and training.
HB 1310 eliminates the enrollment cap on students eligible for state special education funding in Washington, directly affecting all public school districts and students with disabilities. The bill increases funding multipliers for districts serving students with disabilities in inclusive settings (80%+ time in general education), raising the multiplier from 1.12 to 1.5289 for those students, while lowering it to 1.447 for less inclusive placements. It also requires the state superintendent to monitor racial disproportionality in special education identification and provide technical assistance to districts. These changes aim to ensure equitable state funding without requiring local district contributions and support inclusive educational practices.
Senate Bill 5641 encourages public school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools in Washington state to offer instruction on blood donation awareness. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, this instruction may be included in health classes required for graduation for students in grades 9-12. The bill specifies that the awareness programs should be provided by nationally recognized organizations, such as the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will post links to these approved instructional programs on its website. This initiative aims to educate students about the importance of blood donation and opportunities to participate.
Senate Bill 5123 expands protections against discrimination for students in Washington public schools. The bill amends existing state law to prohibit discrimination based on additional categories, including ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence. It also provides specific definitions for these new protected characteristics within the relevant chapter of state education code. This aims to promote inclusivity and ensure equity for all students in public schools.
SB 5813 aims to increase funding for public education, child care, early learning, and higher education by modifying the state's capital gains and estate taxes. Beginning January 1, 2025, an additional excise tax of 2.90 percent will be imposed on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000. For the estate tax, the bill increases the applicable exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2025. It also creates a more progressive rate structure for the estate tax by increasing the top tier rates up to 35 percent, with all revenues dedicated to the education legacy trust account.
