This Week in Olympia
March 14, 2019
This is a special edition of “This Week in Olympia,” in which we are focusing on bills that made it past the house-of-origin cut-off. To continue moving forward, all bills that originated in the House must have been approved by votes of the full chamber by Wednesday, March 13. Likewise with bills that started in the Senate.
We are going to start with SSB 5023, a bill to require OSPI to identify and make available ethnic studies materials and resources for middle and high schools, among other things. It has a hearing on Monday in the House Education Committee. A similar bill in the House (HB 1314) did not advance.
Our members have been at the forefront of this issue. At last year’s WEA Rep Assembly, delegates passed a new business item, encouraging the development of ethnic studies curriculum. Our members have been working with pro-education legislators to introduce and pass an ethnic studies bill. SSB 5023 was sponsored by Sen. Hasegawa. Rep Ortiz-Self, a WEA member, sponsored the House bill.
WEA unequivocally supports SSB 5023 and will continue to advocate for actions that help students of color to succeed in school. We know that when students see themselves, experiences and cultures in the classroom they are more engaged in learning, which translates to academic success.
WEA President Kim Mead says:
“What I know from our members, and my own experience in the classroom, is that our students have to feel safe in school to learn, and that includes feeling like you belong and are respected. SSB 5023 could make a big difference for many students, and we will continue to fight for it, and other actions that advance fairness, equity, diversity and success in our schools.”
Below is a chart of bills we are working that are still alive in Olympia. And a reminder about cut-off deadlines: bills that the legislature deems necessary to implement the budget are still alive and new ones can be introduced after cut-off.
|
Bill |
Brief Description |
Companion Bills |
Position |
|
Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement. |
Support |
||
|
Addressing language access in public schools. |
SB 5606 (SEL/K-12) |
Support |
|
|
Expanding the current and future educator workforce supply. |
Support |
||
|
Concerning nonfirearm measures to increase school safety and student well-being. |
SB 5317 (SRules 2) |
Support |
|
|
Concerning secondary traumatic stress in public school staff. |
Support |
||
|
Addressing plan membership default provisions in the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, and the school employees' retirement system. |
SB 5360 (HApprops) |
Support |
|
|
Increasing revenues for the support of state government. |
SB 5129 (SWays & Means) |
Support |
|
|
Concerning staffing standards and ratios for counselors in community and technical colleges. |
Support |
||
|
Strengthening the rights of workers through collective bargaining by addressing authorizations and revocations, certifications, and the authority to deduct and accept union dues and fees. |
SB 5623 (S2nd Reading) |
Support |
|
|
Promoting career and college readiness through modified high school graduation requirements. |
Requires significant amendments |
||
|
Concerning basic skills assessments for approved teacher preparation programs. |
SB 5512 (SRules 2) |
Support |
|
|
Concerning paraeducators. |
Support |
||
|
Incorporating the costs of employee health benefits into school district contracts for pupil transportation. |
Support |
||
|
Concerning state funding for K-3 class sizes in schools. |
Support |
||
|
Concerning ethnic studies materials and resources for public school students. |
Support |
||
|
Promoting and expanding social emotional learning. |
Support |
||
|
Awarding credits for computer science. |
Concerns regarding additional requirements with no added resources |
||
|
Concerning state and federal special education funding. |
Requires significantly more funding |
||
|
Increasing revenues for the support of state government. |
HB 1343 (HFinance) |
Support |
|
|
Concerning school resource officer mandatory training and policies. |
Support |
||
|
Concerning school levies. |
Support |
||
|
Increasing student support staff in the prototypical school funding model. |
Support |
| SSB 5354 | Concerning programs for highly capable students. | HB 1641(HApprops) | Concerns regarding additional requirements with no added resources |
| SB 5360 | Addressing plan membership default provisions in the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, and the school employees' retirement system. | HB 1308(Hsubst for) | Support |
| E2SSB 5393 | Establishing a statewide free college program by changing the state need grant to the Washington college promise scholarship. | HB 1340(HApprops) | Support |
| ESSB 5395 | Concerning comprehensive sexual health education. | HB 1407(HEducation) | Support |
| E2SSB 5497 | Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state's economy and immigrants' role in the workplace. | HB 1815(HRules R) | Support |
| SSB 5532 | Concerning special education. | Concerns regarding additional requirements with no added resources | |
| SSB 5612 | Concerning Holocaust education. | HB 1624(HEducation) | Support |
| SSB 5689 | Concerning harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in public schools. | Support | |
| ESSB 5853 | Regarding the school construction assistance program. | Support |
