Funding Bills for Special Education and Transportation Continue to Advance in Week 4

February 5, 2023

Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org

Last week SSB 5174, the Senate’s solution to closing the transportation funding gap had a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Testimony was mostly favorable, with some districts calling out issues with private contractors providing transportation services and the requirement for private contractors to pay comparable health and pension benefits to contracted transportation services employees.

On January 23^rd, the House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on HB 1248, the House version of refining the state’s transportation funding formula. The comparable benefits issue was also raised during public testimony. The bill hasn’t been scheduled for executive action and the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Monica Stonier, has indicated she is considering various amendments. The House version applies a different funding formula, but otherwise has similar characteristics to the Senate bill.

This coming week the Senate Ways & Means Committee will hold a public hearing on SSB 5311, concerning the special education funding formula, which would lift the cap on total student enrollment from 13.5% to 15% and would increase the multiplier for students who are in general education classes 80% of their time or more, and for students who spend less than 80% of their time in general education classes.

The House special education funding bill is being rewritten for the February 9^th hearing in House Appropriations. As introduced, HB 1436 would remove the cap completely and would increase the multiplier for students participating 80% of more in general education classes and in classrooms with participation of less than 80%. It’s my understanding the substitute bill will propose lifting the cap gradually over four years or so; not sure what they will do to the multiplier.

Transition to Kindergarten authorization

HB 1550 would legislatively authorize a new program in statute to smooth the way to kindergarten for some of the state’s youngest learners, replacing the current “transitional kindergarten” model successfully being used in school districts across the state. Many districts began offering transitional kindergarten to four-year-olds who would turn five by the next school year as a way to help them “play school.” School districts offering TK, as it’s informally called, treat these four-year-olds like kindergarteners under the basic education allocation model, and offer access to all the services available to kindergarteners, while instruction is provided at a developmentally appropriate level.

As written in the bill, funding for the new Transition to Kindergarten program would be removed from basic education allocations; the bill would set an income threshold for participation and would require new early learning endorsements or early learning special education endorsements for certificated instructors, among other new requirements.

While the state’s ECEAP/Head Start Association testified in support of the bill, most superintendents and school district leaders testified with concerns or in opposition to the bill as drafted. Bill sponsors – Representatives Santos, Tana Senn, and Steve Bergquist – planned to work on proposed amendments, with Rep. Senn saying in meetings they knew some changes would be necessary, but they just had to get the bill out there to meet committee cutoff deadlines.

Following the testimony Tuesday, January 31 in the House Education Committee, SPI Chris Reykdal and Secretary Ross Hunter, Department of Children, Youth and Families, submitted a joint statement about the bill and the existing transitional kindergarten program, and offered amendments for bill sponsors to consider.

Next steps: The bill has not been scheduled for executive action yet. It must pass out of committee by the February 17 cutoff.

Other priorities on the watch list

HB 1565 focuses on supporting and strengthening the professional education workforce. The bill would:

Require the development of an online platform for the recruitment and hiring of public school employees.
Establish a teacher residency program.
Require a report to be made to the Legislature on the establishment of a teacher exchange program.
Modify the Beginning Educator Support Team Program.
Establish educator workforce program data collection, organization, and analysis requirements.
Require a report to be made to the Legislature on the improvement of the quality and effectiveness of educator preparation and workforce programs.

The bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, February 6 at 1:30 PM.

SB 5647 would require school districts to ensure school safety plans include information about how substitute teachers and other temporary employees receive necessary information about safe school plans, including school safety policies and procedures and the three basic functional drill responses for shelter-in-place, lockdown, and evacuation. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee February 9^th at 1:30 PM.

New bills to watch

Likely to get little attention this session, HB 1741 is OSPI-request legislation that would continue the school staffing recommendations for the 2019 work group and report. The bill was introduced Friday, February 3, and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Among activities, the bill would:

Increase ratios in all prototypical schools for principals, assistant principals and other certificated building-level administrators, beginning in the 2025-26 school year;
Increase the ratio for family engagement coordinators in elementary schools to 1.0 and add 1.0 to all middle and high schools;
Create a new category of “continuous improvement coaches” and add a staffing ratio of 1.0 for each prototypical elementary, middle and high school;
Add $25 per student for “classroom supplies,” beginning in the 2025-26 school year;
Increase funding for substitute costs for classroom teachers to 12-funded substitute days per classroom teacher, at a daily rate of $189.82, beginning in the 2023-24 school year;
Increase salary allocations in the omnibus appropriations act, beginning in the 2025-26 school year:
- Certificated instructional staff – 3.33%
- Classified staff – 3.33%
- Certificated administrative staff – 1.67%

SB 5670 would permit 10th grade students to participate in running start in online settings. The bill has been referred to the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee and is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 8 at 8 AM.

Advocacy in Action

Parent advocate Tanya Aggar shared testimony with the House Education Committee January 30^th on HB 1479, an OSPI-request bill that would make changes to the isolation and restraint statute, including prohibiting the use of isolation rooms. Tanya shared that WSPTA supported the intent of the bill, but had some concerns about language in the bill that may lead to confusion and leave educators and administrators confused about what tools that might have when a student is acting in such a way as to harm themselves, other students, or staff. Her testimony can be found here.
Parent advocate and “mitigating climate change” issue submitter Devon Kellogg testified in support of SB 5431, which would put in place the use of zero emission buses, starting in 2035. Listen to her testimony before the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee here.

The Week Ahead – Remote Testimony is available for ALL public hearings

It’s another busy week – Schedule is subject to change

Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/6 @ 10:30am

SB 5365 – Public Hearing – Preventing use of vapor and tobacco products by minors. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/6 @ 1:30pm

SB 5248 – Exec Session – Using COVID-19 relief funding on high quality tutoring and rigorous extended learning programs.
SB 5527 – Public Hearing – Adding additional courses to the list of courses approved as a graduation pathway option. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5559 – Public Hearing – Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)
SB 5626 – Public Hearing – Expanding and enhancing media literacy and digital citizenship in K-12 education. (Remote Testimony Available).

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 1:30pm

HB 1308 – Public Hearing – Concerning high school graduation pathway options. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)
HB 1565 – Public Hearing – Supporting and strengthening the professional education workforce. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1658 – Public Hearing – Authorizing public high school students to earn elective credit for paid work experience. (Remote Testimony Available).

Environment & Energy (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 1:30pm

HB 1589 – Public Hearing – Supporting Washington’s clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)

Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 4:00pm

SHB 1170 – Public Hearing – Improving climate resilience through updates to the state’s integrated climate response strategy. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)
SHB 1181 – Public Hearing – Improving the state’s response to climate change by updating the state’s planning framework. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)

Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 10:30am

HB 1562 – Public Hearing – Reducing the risks of lethality and other harm associated with gun violence, gender-based violence, and other types of violence. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)

Law & Justice (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/7 @ 10:30am

SB 5561 – Public Hearing – Extending the expiration date of the law enforcement community engagement grant project. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Low)

Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 1:30pm

HB 1386 – Exec Session – Establishing a youth development grant program.

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 4:00pm

HB 1003 – Exec Session – Expanding access to dual credit programs. (Support/Low)
HB 1228 – Exec Session – Building a multilingual, multiliterate Washington through dual and tribal language education.
HB 1238 – Exec Session – Providing free school meals for all. (Support)
HB 1316 – Exec Session – Expanding access to dual credit programs. (Support)
HB 1504 – Public Hearing – Ensuring elementary school students receive sufficient daily recess. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns)
HB 1622 – Public Hearing – Supporting the needs of students experiencing homelessness. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Low)

Environment & Energy (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 4:00pm

HB 1368 – Public Hearing – Requiring and funding the purchase of zero emission school buses. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Low)

Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/7 @ 4:00pm

SSB 5071 – Exec Session – Creating the purple star designation. (Support/Low)
SB 5349 – Exec Session – Repealing some postretirement employment restrictions. (Monitoring)

Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/8 @ 8:00am

SB 5577 – Public Hearing – Establishing and making appropriations for the capital broadband investment acceleration program. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)

Higher Education & Workforce Development (Senate) – SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/8 @ 8:00am

SB 5522 – Public Hearing – Adding a stipend to the Washington college grant program. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5670 – Public Hearing – Permitting 10th grade students to participate in running start in online settings. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5703 – Public Hearing – Modifying the Washington college grant and establishing bridge grants. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/8 @ 1:30pm

SB 5408 – Exec Session – Establishing the ninth grade success grant program. (Support/Low)
SB 5441 – Exec Session – Promoting the adoption of school district curricula that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
SB 5462 – Exec Session – Promoting inclusive learning standards and instructional materials in public schools.

State Government & Tribal Relations (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/8 @ 1:30pm

HB 1692 – Public Hearing – Creating student advisory groups. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/8 @ 4:00pm

SHB 1143 – Public Hearing – Concerning requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)
HB 1232 – Public Hearing – Enhancing the college bound scholarship program. (Remote Testimony Available).

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/9 @ 8:00am

HB 1273 – Exec Session – Concerning high school and beyond planning. (Support)
HB 1305 – Exec Session – Improving access to and provision of a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities. (Support/Medium)
HB 1411 – Exec Session – Supporting student success through cross-sector professional development.
HB 1478 – Exec Session – Establishing a statement of student rights.
HB 1701 – Public Hearing – Concerning basic education services to youth who are served through institutional education programs. (Remote Testimony Available).

Environment & Energy (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/9 @ 8:00am

HB 1216 – Exec Session – Concerning clean energy siting. (Support/Low)
HB 1589 – Exec Session – Supporting Washington’s clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future. (Support)

Law & Justice (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/9 @ 8:00am

SB 5232 – Public Hearing – Enhancing requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
SB 5561 – Exec Session – Extending the expiration date of the law enforcement community engagement grant project. (Support/Low)

Regulated Substances & Gaming (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/9 @ 8:00am

HB 1497 – Exec Session – Preventing use of vapor and tobacco products by minors. (Support)

Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 2/9 @ 10:30am

SB 5203 – Exec Session – Improving the state’s response to climate change by updating the state’s planning framework. (Support)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/9 @ 1:30pm

SB 5442 – Public Hearing – Providing enrichment funding for charter public schools. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5527 – Exec Session – Adding additional courses to the list of courses approved as a graduation pathway option.
SB 5647 – Public Hearing – Providing temporary employees necessary information about school safety policies and procedures. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)

Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/9 @ 4:00pm

HB 1109 – Public Hearing – Providing funding for school districts for special education. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Low)
HB 1436 – Public Hearing – Funding special education. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
HB 1693 – Public Hearing – Expanding the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth pilot program. (Remote Testimony Available).

Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/9 @ 4:00pm

SSB 5243 – Public Hearing – Concerning high school and beyond planning. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Medium)
SSB 5311 – Public Hearing – Concerning special education funding formula. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
SSB 5315 – Public Hearing – Concerning nonpublic agencies operating special education programs for students with disabilities. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)

Consumer Protection & Business (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/10 @ 8:00am

HB 1392 – Exec Session – Promoting the fair servicing and repair of digital electronic equipment.

Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/10 @ 8:00am

SB 5380 – Exec Session – Concerning clean energy siting. (Support/Low)
SB 5688 – Public Hearing – Providing carbon sequestration and ecosystem services in the management of public lands. (Remote Testimony Available).

Health & Long Term Care (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/10 @ 8:00am

SB 5499 – Public Hearing – Concerning the multistate nurse licensure compact. (Remote Testimony Available).

Health Care & Wellness (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/10 @ 8:00am

HB 1242 – Exec Session – Creating a behavioral health work group to study the root causes of rising behavioral health issues in Washington communities.
HB 1583 – Exec Session – Creating the profession of certified peer specialists. (Monitoring)

Higher Education & Workforce Development (Senate) – SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/10 @ 10:30am

SB 5566 – Public Hearing – Establishing the student basic needs at public postsecondary institutions act. (Remote Testimony Available).

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