Activity on bills vital to Private Schools & Early Learning

by | Feb 27, 2023 | Legislation and Policy, WFIS News

K12 EDUCATION

Substitute HB 1377 permits all approved clock-hour providers to offer CCDEI training using the PESB standards. It was passed out of the Education Committee, but only after adding a provision requiring an educator program review system currently being developed by the PESB. This bill is headed to the House Floor for a vote.

SB 1479 limits isolation and restraint and requires schools to report if either is used. WFIS was consulted and supported the latest version of the bill. It was approved with amendments. This bill passed the first committee and is in Appropriations.

HB 1537 is the first step (written in the last paragraph of the bill) to remove DCYF licensing from private schools. WFIS sought additional parity in licensing rules for PreK programs in public and private schools that do not take state subsidies. This bill died but will be revived next year.

Second Substitute SB 5315 puts into law the current protocols for the relationship between NonPublic Agencies, Districts, and OSPI. Ways and Means voted the second substitute bill out unanimously, so this bill heads to the Senate Floor and then on to the House. Because a fiscal note is connected to the bill, we may face delays as the legislators determine how it fits into the budget they are writing for the biennium.

Substitute SB 5515, as applied to private boarding schools, now states, “Residential private schools are exempt from DCYF’s licensing requirements if SBE determines that the school is accredited through a body approved by SBE, and that accreditation covers student living accommodations comparable to DCYF’s licensing requirements, in consultation with DCYF.” WFIS has asked to be added to the “in consultation” stipulation. This bill is headed to the Senate Floor.

SB 5059 requires that all victims in court cases settled in court receive prejudgement interest dating back to the time of the incident. If passed, a school could be saddled with a prejudgement bill that is out of scope for the determined damage. WFIS, public school districts, and county medical, legal, and insurance associations testified against this bill. This bill is headed to the Senate Floor.

SB 5048 allows public school students to take college-in-the-classroom courses without the cost of college credits. The bill is headed to the Senate Floor without private school inclusion.

EARLY LEARNING

HB 1550 is hot, hot, hot. This is a complicated bill with the support of two of the most prominent legislators, Rep Sharon Tomiko Santos and Rep Tana Senn. The Governor’s Office, OSPI’s Chris Reykdal, and DCYF’s Ross Hunter testified against the bill. Their most significant issue is that it cuts the TK program out of Basic ED. There will be many iterations before the session is over.

SB 5316 improves some of the issues associated with the DCYF background check system by eliminating costs. This bill is headed to the Senate Floor.

SB 5525 expands Working Connections eligibility. This bill is moving to the Floor.