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
Protect Independent Schools from Unionization required by the Workforce Standards Board Bill
The Workforce Standards Board bill (House Bill 1128, Senate Bill 5062) threatens the very foundation of private and independent schools by giving unions and the government excessive power over staffing, curriculum, and operations. Here’s why this bill is so dangerous:...
School Environmental Health & Safety Rules
Speak up now! The comment period closes on Feb 9. Once put into law, schools will be tasked with implementation. The WA State Board of Health (WBOH) released the draft health and safety rules, which have not been updated in over 20 years. Please comment or question...
ICE enforcement in schools and religious institutions
With the new directive that schools and churches can be targeted for ICE investigations, there is uncertainty regarding how state-level protections will shield students and families. This week, OSPI released a bulletin with do's & don'ts for public schools, but...
Testing for radon in schools
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep through the soil under a building, through cracks and openings into the building’s foundation, and concentrate in the building to unhealthy levels. It is a leading cause of lung cancer. Washington Tracking...
SBE boarding school accreditation rule updates: Public comment
WFIS crafted an addition to a boarding school bill that allows schools to use their accreditation status instead of being licensed by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The State Board of Education will finalize the rules on January 24 at 3:00 pm. If you...
2025 President’s Environmental Student and Teacher Awards
The EPA’s Office of Environmental Education is accepting applications for the 2025 President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). Applications for both awards are due by Monday, January 15, 2025....
OSPI School Safety & Student Wellbeing Advisory Committee
Last week's OSPI SWAC meeting convened diverse educators, law enforcement, state agency personnel, and policy advisors to fulfill the legislative mandate to provide training, funding, statewide data collection, and other support for schools and districts. The group...
Private Schools’ participation in the William D. Ruckelshaus Center’s project
This report comes from the Ruckelshaus Center team, which met with our school leaders to discuss the COVID-19 response and explore ways to assist students struggling with the aftermath of being out of school. This preliminary summary's findings and recommendations are...
School Immunization Requirement Charts for 2025-26
The 2025-26 requirement charts and Individual Vaccine Requirements Summary document are now available in the Immunization Requirements section of the School and Child Care Immunization page at www.doh.wa.gov/SCCI. Parent charts and translations have been posted to the...
PESB updates to limited certificate & substitute assignment policy
At their November 2024 board meeting, the Professional Educator Standards Board approved policy updates to limited certificates and substitute assignment. These policy shifts are effective January 2025. For a summary of the changes compared to the previous policy, go...
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.