It was a busy, busy week in the Legislature with committees having to pass policy bills out by today, Friday, March 26. Several bills were changed significantly by the opposite house, particularly – related to professional learning on topics of equity and cultural competency – and , which creates a bridge year program for an additional year of high school. In addition to work on policy bills, both the Senate and the House released their operating, supplemental, capital, and transportation budgets. Next week will be busy as fiscal committees have to meet the deadline of Friday, April 2 to pass bills out of these committees.
Budget
The House is expected to release its operating budget () at 3:00 pm today (). The Senate operating budget was released yesterday. This is a high-level summary of (Proposed Substitute Senate Bill), with key budget items included by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
We appreciate the attention paid to providing stable funding for transportation and enrollment, as well as support for key programs that support principals and students. Funding is provided for principal internships, mentorships, continued professional learning through the inclusionary practices project, and the Washington State Leadership Academy. Our students will be supported with funds for more elementary school counselors and funds to support the Cispus Learning Center, the Association of Washington Student Leaders, and outdoor education. Our state’s improved revenue forecast along with an influx of federal dollars help make this support possible.
Here are additional details:
FEDERAL ESSER GRANTS | $1.74 BILLION (2021–23) | $1.67 billion of federal funding allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and $74.2 million of federal funding allocated by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act is provided to assist school districts with response to the COVID–19 pandemic.
TRANSPORTATION STABILIZATION | $299 MILLION (2021 SUPPLEMENTAL), $58.9 MILLION (2021–23) |One-time funding is provided for one-time pupil transportation payments to school districts to address lower pupil transportation payments for the 2020–21 school year.
SCHOOL FUNDING STABILIZATION | $190.7 MILLION (2021–23) |One-time funding is provided to ensure school districts receive at least $1,500 per pupil for COVID–19 relief funding when combined with federal relief dollars.
ACCELERATED LEARNING | $217.8 MILLION (2021–23) |One-time funding is provided for learning recovery and acceleration to address student learning loss.
COUNSELORS FOR HIGH POVERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | $32.8 MILLION (2021–23), $86.3 MILLION (2023–25) |Funding is provided to allocate an additional 0.5 FTE counselor per prototypical school for all high-poverty elementary schools. This additional funding increases counselor staffing per prototypical school for high poverty elementary schools above the amounts specified in RCW 28A.150.260.
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | $12 MILLION (2021–23) |Funding is provided for professional development to promote the inclusion of students requiring special education within the general education classroom.
PARAEDUCATOR TRAINING | $14.8 MILLION (2021–23), $32.1 MILLION (2023–25) |Funding is provided for two days of training in the Paraeducator Certificate Program in fiscal year 2023 and two days each year thereafter. Funding is also provided to develop a course to provide online training to paraeducators on effective community, family, and student engagement.
SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSITION SERVICES | $24 MILLION (2021–23) |Federal funding is provided for extension of transition services for students with disabilities who turned age 21 during the 2019–20 or 2020–21 school years and did not graduate with a regular diploma. 6
COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER | $18.5 MILLION (2021–23) |Federal funding is provided for the community learning center program for the purpose of supporting afterschool programs.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION | $18 MILLION (2021–23) |Federal funding is provided for outdoor education summer enrichment programs for youth.
SUMMER REENGAGEMENT | $17.7 MILLION (2021–23) |Federal funding is provided for the establishment of a summer reengagement grant program for the purpose of assisting school districts in facilitating a week-long program in schools for students to reengage in learning, physical activity, and social interaction.
These bills still remain alive for this session:
House bills in the Senate:
| Repealing the EdTPA
| Students with seizure disorders
| Concerning school attendance
| Emergency graduation waiver
| Taking action to address lead in drinking water
| Concerning high school graduation credit (20 credits) and pathway options (performance exhibition)
| Access to higher education (fines and fees)
| Modifying the learning assistance program
| Expanding accessible, affordable child care and early learning
| Providing K–12 public school safety and security services by classified staff
| School-based health care centers
| Concerning menstrual products in schools
| Concerning institutional education
| Concerning college in the high school programs
| Implementing policies related to children and youth behavioral health
| Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches
| Prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images as public school mascots, logos, or team names
| Procuring and supporting appropriate computers and devices for public school students and staff
| Promoting student access to information about behavioral health resources
| Continuing education requirements for administrators and teachers
| Addressing enrollment declines
| Concerning the statewide first responder building mapping information system
Senate bills in the House:
| Comprehensive school counseling programs
| Providing housing to school district employees
| Professional learning related to equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism in schools
| Concerning student transportation funding
| Establishing a point of contact in all K–12 schools for students in foster care
| Establishing school district depreciation subfunds for the purposes of preventative maintenance
| Expanding accessible, affordable child care and early childhood development programs
| Supporting media literacy and digital citizenship
| Mastery based learning
| Creating a bridge year pilot program
| Allowing computer science courses as a third year of either a math or science graduation requirement
| Prohibiting dual enrollment between SEBB and PEBB
| Creating a confidential youth safety and well-being tip line
| Promoting awareness of the governor’s office of the education ombuds
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