Legislative and Policy Advocacy
We work with legislators and policy makers to ensure that legislation in Olympia affecting schools and education is crafted with the particular needs of private and independent schools in mind.WFIS Legislative and Policy Updates
Childcare Aware’s Deeann Puffert meeting with WFIS Early Learning Directors
Deeann Puffert, Chief Executive Officer of Childcare Aware of Washington met with the early learning directors who run programs connected to K12 private schools. With over 250 early learning programs connected to private schools, WFIS’ role in providing direct access and advocacy for our programs is vital.
FCC Approves Emergency Connectivity Fund
The $7.1 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECFP) passed as part of the latest COVID relief bill will be available for schools to purchase laptops, tablets, hotspots, and other forms of connectivity for students and teachers. Within the next two months, the FCC will open an initial 45-day application window allowing schools to seek funding for future purchases of approved services and devices.
May 19 NEW deadline for Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS)
OSPI Chief Financial Officer, T.J. Kelly, emailed all 223 schools last Friday afternoon with the extended deadline date announcement. Responses to the recorded EANS Q&A webinar and WFIS follow-up list are still be worked on by OSPI staff. Details will be posted to...
EANS II: Additional Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (ARP-EANS)
Under the ARP EANS program, grants will be awarded by formula to each Governor with an approved application based on the State’s relative share of children ages 5-17 who are from families at or below 185 percent of the poverty level and enrolled in non-public schools, as determined by non-public school enrollment data from the U.S. Census
Early Learning: Success in the Legislature
The legislature passed a final operating budget with $770 million in early learning investments, which includes $400 million federal funding for childcare providers. The Fair Start for Kids Act will provide strong early learning system support for the youngest...
WFIS Advocacy Efforts Continue
Each week of this unique session has generated an incredible amount of new information, bold ideas and conversations related to education policy and funding, as well as health and safety practices for reopening schools. School leaders have come together through WFIS...
California adopts 3-foot distancing rule for classrooms
We want all students to have equitable access to in-person learning and the only way to do this safely is to continue to abide by the countermeasures and reduce the distance between students.
Inslee signs bill allowing COVID-19-related waivers of some graduation requirements
The new law allows for individual students to waive credit or testing requirements if their ability to complete them was disrupted by the pandemic. Schools are still expected to help students meet requirements as normal before falling back on the emergency waiver as a last resort.
Biden announces teachers are essential workers, urges all states to vaccinate educators ASAP
President Biden wants K-12 back open for in-person learning as a vaccinated workforce. He wants State’s to treat in-person learning like the essential service that it is, including child care. Today he is directing every state to prioritize vaccination of educational workforce.
House Bill 1139 Lead Screening in Public and Private Schools
HB 1139 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Education Committee on Friday, February 12 at 10:00am. WFIS is seeking to strike private schools from this bill.
Private schools care about the health and safety of students. However, this bill mandates the same expectation for private schools as public schools without access to the infrastructure or funding to support the requirements.
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