During a recent session, the Washington State Board of Health was given a detailed walkthrough of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) process, including how decisions were made on each proposed rule. The TAC leadership ensured that all members—including WFIS—had ample opportunity to voice both concerns and support throughout the rule development process.
A recurring concern from private schools is the expectation to comply with costly new regulations without receiving any financial assistance. In addition, schools are frequently faced with mandates from multiple state agencies that do not coordinate their requirements, creating an overwhelming and often conflicting landscape for compliance.
It’s important to clarify the roles of the two key health entities in our state:
- The Washington State Board of Health sets statewide health rules, regulations, and policies that apply to schools.
- The Washington State Department of Health handles data collection, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness.
While private schools interact most often with their local health jurisdictions, they also respond to Department of Health requests such as immunization reporting. Meanwhile, it is the Board of Health that determines the broader health policies schools must follow.
