Agencies and Committees
WFIS represents the interests of private schools on agency boards and working groups and serves as the official liaison organization for independent schools with OSPI and the Department of Early Learning.WFIS Agency and Committee News
The EANS fiasco continues
The final date for schools to submit EANS I claims for reimbursement was November 15. This week, OSPI emailed private schools a status update on their final claims submissions with the tally below, noting the agency had anticipated claims would exceed the remaining...
Local Health Jurisdictions amp-up school inspections
WFIS participated in Pierce County's Fall School Advisory meeting on Thursday. The agenda covered CTE safety, fee updates, and NEW school self-inspection checklists. Pierce County administers School Kitchen, New School, and 2-year Renewal School Inspections. WFIS...
Early Learning Advocacy
Next week, the Children's Alliance is hosting the Early Learning Action Alliance's one-day retreat to build its advocacy platform for this year's legislative session. WFIS will be there. WFIS is on the Executive Board of the Early Learning Action Alliance, a broad...
Annual Immunization Report
All schools must submit the Annual Immunization Report to the Department of Health before December 1, 2023. Schools using the WAIIS School Module should have received a link to the school’s reporting survey. If you have not received the link, please email...
Fall is respiratory virus season
The WA health agencies emphasize staying home if sick to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. What can parents do? Parents can monitor respiratory symptoms and keep children home when they have runny noses, coughing, sore throats, nausea, fever, and vomiting....
Hand sanitizer updates and disposal
The US Food and Drug Administration regulates hand sanitizer as an over-the-counter drug, and because of that, expiration dates are required. Unfortunately, there were many safety and efficacy issues with some of the sanitizers produced for the pandemic, and the FDA...
Enrollment Report: power in the numbers
When WFIS engages legislators about policy needs, having data that proves private school families are their constituents and private school enrollment is strong is the most powerful tool. Every school should complete the annual private enrollment report to convey the...
Election results for SBE private school position
The results of the 2023 Election were certified by the WSSDA’s Nominating Committee. For details visit 2023 Comprehensive Election Results - SBE | ESDs | WSSDA. We congratulate and appreciate Jan Brown for serving a second term as private schools' voice on the State...
Private School Advisory Committee meeting in October
Last week, private school representatives met with OSPI department leads to offer feedback and receive new information to share with schools. The Private School Advisory Committee (PSAC) is made up of school representatives from different kinds of private schools. The...
Approval of Private Schools and Updates to Rules
At their October board meeting finalizing private school approvals for the 2023-24 academic year, the State Board of Education fully approved seven schools, provisionally approved four schools, and extended provisional approval for six schools that were granted...
About our work
WFIS representatives work with State Agencies, including the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), The Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), The Department of Health (DOH), and others to advocate for the particular needs of private schools.
WFIS representatives communicate regularly with WFIS leadership and member schools so that dialogue includes the needs of private schools.
WFIS works directly with the executive directors of the accreditation organizations in Washington to protect the integrity of accreditation and our schools. We refer to these leaders as “Constituency Leaders” and rely on their in-depth understanding of their schools to guide WFIS’ policy decisions.
WFIS is in Olympia during the legislative session, building relationships with Legislators and their staff, collaborating with lobbying organizations with similar goals, and reading and contributing to legislation to ensure private schools are considered when law is crafted and passed.