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
New Head of School? Update your info with SBE ASAP!
If your school leadership or address has changed since the spring, update this key information with the State Board of Education. Please use the Private-School-Change-of-Information-Form and know it will take a week for SBE to input the new information. The log-in...
Multilingual Directors’ Workshop- August 2023
There are about 50 private schools serving 650 students with Title III Part A, funding. These funds provide additional support for multilingual learners as well as services for American Indian/Alaska Native students and for multilingual/English learners in private...
Clean Buildings Tier 2 building owners survey
Dept. of Commerce hosted a Rulemaking Workshop that discussed new definitions and administrative procedures for Tier 2 buildings. Tier 2 building owners should take the survey on building compliance costs/cost savings before it closes at the end of July.
WA Department of Health launches new K12 Schools webpage
The newly updated DOH K-12 Schools website is more user-friendly and now includes six categories for quick and easy access to resources. The redesign is a “one-stop shop” for K-12 school-connected programs and school partners. The “What’s Happening Now” section,...
Weapons Report due to OSPI by July 31st
All private schools are required by law to enter into the Education Data System (EDS) any incidents of weapons on their school premises this year. Please check your data carefully, and print a copy for your record BEFORE SUBMITTING; it will be published on the OSPI...
Dept. of Commerce Clean Buildings Tier 2 Rulemaking Workshop 2
Tier 2 Rulemaking: Workshop 2 - Energy Management Plan and Operations & Maintenance Program WFIS attended the second workshop hosted by the Department of Commerce. They are collecting comments about the proposed rules for the Clean Energy Buildings, specific to...
Early Learning Providers Comment on DCYF Licensing Department
The Early Learning Advisory Council met on June 6, graced by our newest private school representative Jen Sandvig, Childcare Director at Sagebrush Montessori. ELAC's goal is to provide feedback for goal-setting with DCYF. Many comments about the DCYF licensing...
The State Board of Health: School Health & Safety
Chapter 246-366 WAC is the Board's environmental health and safety rule for primary and secondary schools. The Board adopted the updated rule on August 12, 2009. Frustrated by the lack of funding, the board, at the June 14, 2023 meeting, discussed actions the board...
EANS II Update
National education advocacy organizations and federal agencies have shown concern and surprise at the Washington State Government's attempt to take federal funding previously obligated to students in private schools out of the pockets of private schools for their own...
ESD COVID-Coordinators secure 2023-24 contracts
WA DOH has requested that each of the 9 ESDs continue to employ, though on a part-time basis, the COVID-Coordinators. The COVID-Coordinators supported public and private schools with testing access and information during the pandemic and will continue through the...
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.