Education

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5177: Considering the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups when identifying professional development resources on certain topics.

SB 5177 directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to expand its list of professional development resources for school district staff. These resources, covering topics like social-emotional learning and antibullying strategies, must specifically consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented student groups. This includes students with disabilities, neurodivergence, diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and those from various racial, ethnic, religious, national origin, and immigration backgrounds. The bill aims to help school staff create more inclusive and supportive environments for all students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates OSPI to expand professional development resources considering marginalized groups, enhancing inclusive educational access and curriculum support for K-12 staff.95% confidence

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signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1556: Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.

HB 1556 expands tuition waivers at Washington community and technical colleges for students who need to complete high school while attending college. It directly affects high school completers (including nonresidents), children and surviving spouses of fallen or disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or state patrol officers, and up to 40% of students in deaf education programs. Key provisions require colleges to waive all tuition and fees for eligible high school completers and first responder families (with a 10-year enrollment window), and allow partial waivers for nonresidents in high school completion programs. The law, effective July 2025, also mandates annual reporting on waiver costs to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill waives tuition/fees for high school completers, military families, and deaf education students, directly expanding educational access and reducing financial barriers for higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

passed · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5637: Promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education.

Senate Bill 5637 updates the mandatory one-half credit civics course for high school students in Washington state. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, this course will expand to include instruction on voter registration, media literacy related to elections and misinformation, and how individuals can influence public policy. The bill requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to identify and provide nonpartisan educational materials for these new topics by September 2025. OSPI will also review these resources every five years to ensure they remain relevant. This legislation aims to enhance students' critical thinking skills regarding information and civic engagement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands mandatory civics curriculum to include media literacy, voter registration, and policy influence, enhancing student education on civic engagement and access to information.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1877: Eliminating the offices, agencies, programs, and services of the public education system that do not have direct daily interaction with students.

HB 1877 would eliminate most non-teaching administrative offices in Washington state's public education system that do not involve daily student interaction, such as educational service districts and certain programs. By December 31, 2025, the state auditor must identify these offices and dissolve them, with the exception of the constitutionally required superintendent position. The bill states this change aims to reduce costs and administrative burdens, directing any education-related functions to be relocated into student-facing roles. This proposal is currently in committee review after its first reading on February 7, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly aims to reduce costs by eliminating non-essential administrative offices in public education, directly cutting government spending and administrative burdens per summary.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates non-teaching administrative offices (e.g., educational service districts) to reduce costs, weakening support structures for schools without direct student interaction, aligning with 'limit' and 'weaken' indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1134: Promoting resource conservation practices in public schools.

HB 1134 establishes a voluntary "Washington state green schools program" within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to promote student-led resource conservation in public schools. The program provides limited stipend funding ($600 max per school annually) for school-based advisors to support student education and leadership in waste reduction, energy conservation, water efficiency, and urban forestry initiatives. Schools with over 50% of students eligible for free/reduced-price meals receive priority for funding, and the program aligns with state science curriculum standards on climate and sustainability. It is funded using revenues from the Climate Commitment Act and complements existing district conservation efforts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $600 stipend funding for student-led conservation programs in public schools, enhancing educational initiatives and student leadership opportunities within K-12 schools.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly promotes energy conservation in schools via stipend-funded student initiatives, directly advancing energy efficiency goals.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds school-led conservation initiatives in waste reduction, energy, and water efficiency, directly advancing environmental protection through resource conservation programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Energy Efficiency Conservation Forestry Recycling

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1357: Providing special education funding and support for inclusionary practices.

HB 1357 (Washington State) updates special education funding to incentivize inclusive classrooms. It revises the funding formula so school districts receive higher per-student allocations (1.18 multiplier) for students with disabilities spending 80%+ of their day in general education settings, versus a lower rate (1.09) for less inclusive placements. The bill also creates a grant program for up to 20 "pilot schools" to become centers of excellence in inclusionary practices, requiring demonstrated leadership commitment, staff training plans, and data on current inclusion efforts. These schools would receive funding to reach a 1.5 inclusion multiplier over four years. The bill directly affects school districts and students with disabilities in Washington state, focusing on concrete funding changes and support mechanisms to promote inclusive education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRevises funding formula to increase per-student allocations for inclusive special education, directly advancing public education budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases special education funding for inclusive classrooms via higher per-student rates (1.18 vs 1.09) and creates inclusion pilot grants, directly advancing inclusionary practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1734: Concerning outdoor learning grants to expand and improve the delivery of outdoor learning opportunities.

HB 1734 creates a state grant program to fund capital improvements for facilities used in outdoor learning. It provides competitive grants to tribes, local governments, nonprofits, and others to build, renovate, or rehab facilities that expand access to outdoor education for public school students, particularly in underserved communities. Key provisions require projects to increase student capacity or remove participation barriers, mandate facility maintenance for a set period, and ensure funds are used solely for outdoor learning. The grants are intended to complement existing outdoor education programs by improving infrastructure, not operating costs, with funding requests to be submitted starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state grant program funding outdoor education facilities, increasing public service funding allocation for underserved communities.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds capital improvements for outdoor learning facilities in public schools, expanding access for underserved students through competitive grants targeting increased capacity and barrier removal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1634: Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students.

HB 1634 establishes regional school safety centers in Washington state to help public school districts coordinate behavioral health support for students. The centers will provide training for school staff on suicide prevention, facilitate partnerships between schools and community health providers, offer Medicaid billing assistance, and support school-based threat assessment programs. This bill directly affects all public school districts, their staff (including counselors and psychologists), and students needing behavioral health services by improving access to existing resources through coordinated planning. It amends state law to require these centers to work with tribes and community partners to ensure culturally responsive support. The bill focuses on strengthening existing systems rather than creating new programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes regional centers for school behavioral health support, training, and partnerships - directly strengthening student mental health services in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes regional centers to coordinate student behavioral health services, including suicide prevention training, Medicaid billing assistance, and school-community health partnerships, directly advancing mental health support in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Testing & Assessment Medicaid Mental Health

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5025: Concerning educational interpreters.

Substitute Senate Bill 5025 updates the requirements for educational interpreters who assist deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing students in Washington schools. It directs the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to establish new standards, identify assessments, and create a certification system for these interpreters, including separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind interpreters. The bill introduces two types of certificates: a limited certificate for those meeting a basic performance standard, and a full certificate for those meeting a higher standard, with all interpreters generally required to be certified by the 2027-28 school year. It allows for a temporary period where interpreters can continue working while pursuing certification and mandates that the PESB publicly report certification data annually.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes certification standards for educational interpreters, improving support for deaf/hard of hearing students and enhancing educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1356: Concerning K-12 funding.

HB 1356 adjusts Washington state's K-12 school funding by updating local enrichment levy limits and creating a state matching program. It sets new per-pupil funding caps ($2,500 for districts under 40,000 students, $3,000 for larger districts) through 2030, adjusted annually for inflation plus a temporary 3.33% annual increase (2027-2030), then raises the cap to $5,035 starting in 2031. The bill requires school districts to get approval for how they spend local levy funds before voting on them and links state funding to local effort - matching districts that raise less than $1.50 per $1,000 in property value. This directly affects all public school districts and state-tribal education compact schools by changing how local taxes and state funds combine to support school programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state K-12 funding via per-pupil caps and matching program, ensuring consistent public education budget growth through 2031.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases per-pupil funding caps through 2031 ($2,500-$5,035) with inflation adjustments and a temporary 3.33% boost, plus creates a state matching program for K-12 funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget K-12 Education School Funding

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