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
WA Clean Buildings Standards
WFIS member school have been inquiring about the WA Clean Building Standards soon to impact buildings 50,000 square feet (Tier 1) and shortly after that to apply to buildings 20,000 square feet and up. "Soon" is a relative term. For Tier I buildings, schools must...
CDC advisory committee & school vaccine schedule
Last week, the CDC advisory panel discussed the vaccine schedules for influenza, pneumococcal, meningococcal, respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus, dengue. In addition, they discussed the adult immunization schedule & the child/adolescent immunization schedule...
Determining your building EUIt
WA Clean Buildings recently hosted their first webinar of an informational series. It covered determining your building’s energy use intensity target (EUIt), which is essential when pursuing compliance with HB 1257. The recording can be found on the Clean Buildings...
WA clean buildings and upgrades for schools
On March 25, 2022, Governor Inslee signed the Clean Buildings expansion bill into law. The expansion applies to buildings 20,000 square feet or larger, including schools. The first phase of this expansion will require reporting on benchmarks and implementing energy...
Non-profit status and Federal Financial Assistance
Two court case decisions changed the way the federal government considers nonprofits. They state that 501(c)3 status equates to organizations being federal assistance recipients. These cases were decided in Maryland and California. They will most likely be appealed....
WFIS recap of the State-CAPE’s Summer Institute
The State CAPE networks' annual Summer Institute took place in Colorado Springs this year. The presenters included Robert Enlow from EdChoice; Andy Lynch from North Star Marketing; Michael Bindis from Institute for Justice, and Andrew Neumann from Open Sky Education....
DOH Updated Guidance for K12 schools & childcare now in one merged document
The WA State Department of Health's NEW Requirements and Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools, Child Care, Early Learning, Youth Development, and Day Camp Programs take effect March 12 to coincide with the lifting of general indoor masking...
A most positive shift during the 2021-22 school year
This school year has been full of local, county, and state agency meetings for the WFIS staff. WFIS Member school leaders have remained updated of this work through our weekly Member Zoom meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as our WFIS Member Weekly Update...
Should kids be inoculated against COVID to attend Washington schools? It’s being studied.
January 11, 2022 in the Bellingham Herald The Washington state Board of Health is considering a proposal to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all K-12 students, and some people are not happy about it. The board has scheduled a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 12,...
The future of equity in educator standards
What are your thoughts on the new law implemented by ESSB 5044, which will regulate professional learning on equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism for all public and private school educators?
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