Oyster Bay Public Affairs
WSCA Legislative Update
This week, the House Education Committee held a joint work session with the House Health Care &
Wellness Committee to hear the findings from the report from HB 2739, which passed in 2014. This
legislation, sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, required a detailed analysis of Adverse Childhood
Experiences and their impact on student learning and achievement. Researcher Christopher Blodgett
from Washington State University presented his findings to the committees, which included:
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Poverty and ACEs are only modestly related. In high ACEs communities, high poverty schools are
more common but this co-occurrence is modest. Poverty is a powerful independent influence on
academic, youth, and community success distinct from the impact of ACEs which occur across all
income levels.
o When asked specifically to indicate which factors have a greater impact on student
achievement, Dr. Blodgett listed 1. Poverty, 2. ACES, and 3. Teacher quality.
Over 300,000 students in Washington live in communities where more than 35% of adults report
high ACEs. As the average amount of high ACEs in the community increases, academic success and
wellbeing of the children is put at risk.
As the percent of high ACEs in a community increases, fewer students pass Washington's
standardized academic assessments. Schools in higher ACEs communities report mean percent of
students passing the assessments 2-6 percentage points lower than in communities with lower
ACEs. This translates to thousands of students in high ACEs community failing on these critical
assessments each year.
The effect of ACEs is demonstrated beginning in elementary school aged children and continues
across grade levels and content areas.
Poverty but not ACEs is highly predictive of rates of unexcused absences, graduation from high
school, and progression into postsecondary education.
A full copy of Dr. Blodgett's report goes into greater detail about his findings.
The joint committees also heard a presentation on ESHB 1336, also passed in 2014, regarding student
suicide prevention.
Hearings on the “Breakfast after the Bell” legislation took place in the House and Senate Education
Committees this week with very broad support from a number of organizations, including WSCA. The
House bill is scheduled for Executive Session next week. Both hearings are available for viewing here:
House Education Hearing from January 27th
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Hearing from January 27th
Next week, the House Education is hearing a couple of important WSCA bills. HB 1408 proposes the
development of a definition and model for "family engagement coordinator" and other terms used
interchangeably with it. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, will be heard Monday at 1:30.
Weekly Legislative Update
January 30, 2015
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Thursday at 8:00 a.m., the House Education Committee will hear HB 1591, regarding High School &
Beyond Plans, also sponsored by Rep. Ortiz-Self. WSCA will testify in support of this legislation.
Upcoming Events
Education (House) - HHR B, JLOB - 2/2 @ 1:30pm
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HB 1031 - Exec Session - Expanding participation in college in the high school programs.
HB 1345 - Public Hearing - Adopting a definition and standards of professional learning.
HB 1408 - Public Hearing - Concerning the development of a definition and model for "family
engagement coordinator" and other terms used interchangeably with it.
HB 1562 - Public Hearing - Requiring posting of allergen information in public schools.
Higher Education (House) - HHR C, JLOB - 2/3 @ 8:00am
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HB 1236 - Exec Session - Eliminating the parent or guardian approval requirement for the college
bound scholarship pledge.
Government Operations & Security (Senate) - SHR 2, JACB - 2/3 @ 10:00am
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SB 5495 - Public Hearing - Concerning the confidentiality of educator professional growth plans.
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) - SHR 1, JACB - 2/3 @ 1:30pm
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SB 5497 - Public Hearing - Confirming that the professional educator standards board is an
authorized representative of the state educational agencies.
Education (House) - HHR A, JLOB - 2/3 @ 1:30pm
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HB 1363 - Public Hearing - Eliminating the requirement to obtain a certificate of academic
achievement or certificate of individual achievement to graduate from high school.
HB 1703 - Public Hearing - Modifying the high school assessment system by changing the
administration of alternative assessments, continuing the requirement for students to
demonstrate achievement of state academic standards to earn a high school diploma, and aligning
the system with career and college ready graduation requirements.
HB 1785 - Public Hearing - Eliminating the certificate of academic achievement as a requirement
for high school graduation.
Higher Education (House) - HHR C, JLOB - 2/4 @ 1:30pm
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January 30, 2015
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HB 1236 - Exec Session - Eliminating the parent or guardian approval requirement for the college
bound scholarship pledge.
HB 1138 - Exec Session - Creating a task force on mental health and suicide prevention in higher
education.
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) - SHR 1, JACB - 2/5 @ 8:00am
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SB 5526 - Public Hearing - Preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying in public schools.
SB 5657 - Public Hearing - Creating a pilot program to encourage school districts to extend the
school day to provide homework assistance to middle schools.
SB 5688 - Public Hearing - Providing students with skills that promote mental health and wellbeing and increase academic performance.
SB 5690 - Public Hearing - Concerning school-community learning assistance program action
plans.
Education (House) - HHR A, JLOB - 2/5 @ 8:00am
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HB 1295 - Exec Session - Concerning breakfast after the bell programs.
HB 1546 - Public Hearing - Concerning dual credit opportunities provided by Washington state's
public institutions of higher education.
HB 1591 - Public Hearing - Concerning high school and beyond plans.
Energy, Environment & Telecommunications (Senate) - SHR 4, JACB - 2/5 @ 1:30pm
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SB 5414 - Public Hearing - Regulating trees and shrubs located near solar energy systems.
Capital Budget (House) - HHR B, JLOB - 2/6 @ 8:00am
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HB 1164 - Public Hearing - Creating a competitive equipment assistance grant program to enhance
student nutrition in public schools.
Higher Education (House) - HHR C, JLOB - 2/6 @ 10:00am
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HB 1236 - Exec Session - Eliminating the parent or guardian approval requirement for the college
bound scholarship pledge.
HB 1138 - Exec Session - Creating a task force on mental health and suicide prevention in higher
education.
Bill Tracking and Summary List
Bill Details
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January 30, 2015
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Status
Sponsor
Priority
Position
Oyster Bay Public Affairs
College in the high school
HB 1031
H Education
Johnson
Expanding participation in college in the high school programs.
Summary: Allows tenth grade students to participate in the college in the high school program.
College in the high school
HB 1081
H Education
Sullivan
Expanding participation in the college in the high school programs.
Summary: Allows tenth grade students to participate in the college in the high school program.
Higher ed mental health
H Hi Ed
Orwall
Creating a task force on mental health and suicide prevention in higher education.
HB 1138
Summary: Requires Forefront at the University of Washington to convene a task force on mental health
and suicide prevention at public and private institutions of higher education to determine what
policies, resources, and technical assistance are needed to support the institutions in improving access
to mental health services and improving suicide prevention responses. Expires July 1, 2017.
Student nutrition/grant prog
H Cap Budget
Riccelli
Creating a competitive equipment assistance grant program to enhance student nutrition in public
schools.
HB 1164
Summary: Establishes the apple a day act of 2015. Creates a competitive equipment assistance grant
program, to be known as the apple a day program, to enhance overall student nutrition in public
schools. Requires the superintendent of public instruction to establish a competitive process to
prioritize applications for state assistance. Provides that this act is null and void if appropriations are
not approved.
College bound scholarship
HB 1236
H Hi Ed
Ortiz-Self
Eliminating the parent or guardian approval requirement for the college bound scholarship pledge.
Summary: Eliminates the requirement of parent or guardian approval for the college bound scholarship
pledge.
Truancy of students
H Judiciary
Muri
Providing flexibility for how school districts address truancy of students.
HB 1243
Summary: Reduces the administrative and paperwork load for school districts and the court system by
providing flexibility for how school districts address truancy.
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January 30, 2015
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Breakfast after the bell
H Education
Hudgins
Support
Concerning breakfast after the bell programs.
HB 1295
(SB 5437)
Summary: Requires each high-needs school to offer breakfast after the bell to each student and provide
adequate time for students to eat. Requires the state to provide financial assistance to support the costs
of implementing breakfast after the bell programs at participating high-needs schools. Requires the
office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Develop and distribute procedures and
guidelines for the implementation of this act; and (2) Dedicate staff within the office to offer training
and technical and marketing assistance to public schools and school districts related to offering
breakfast after the bell.
Professional learning
H Education
Lytton
Adopting a definition and standards of professional learning.
HB 1345
Summary: Adopts a statewide definition of effective professional learning. Directs public schools and
school districts to establish targeted, sustained, relevant professional learning opportunities that meet
the definition and are aligned to state and district goals.
H.S. certificates/graduation
HB 1363
(SB 5327)
H Education
Hunt
Eliminating the requirement to obtain a certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual
achievement to graduate from high school.
Summary: Eliminates the certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual achievement
needed to graduate from high school.
Revenue growth for education
H Approps
Magendanz
Prioritizing state revenue growth for education.
HB 1385
(SSB 5063)
Summary: Establishes the kids first act. Declares an intent to: (1) Prioritize K-12 education investments
in a manner designed to best achieve improved student outcomes; (2) Make college education more
affordable while increasing bachelor and graduate degree production, particularly in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; and (3) Increase opportunities for low-income
families to enroll in high quality preschool and early learning programs. Provides for submission of this
act to a vote of the people.
Family engagemnt coordinator
H Education
Ortiz-Self
Concerning the development of a definition and model for "family engagement coordinator" and other
terms used interchangeably with it.
HB 1408
Summary: Requires the office of the education ombuds, together with the educational opportunity gap
oversight and accountability committee, to develop and recommend to the education committees of the
legislature a definition for the term that is variously referred to as "family engagement coordinator,"
"parent and family engagement coordinator," and "parent involvement coordinator" and a model or
framework for such a staff position. Expires July 1, 2016.
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January 30, 2015
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Suicide prevention
HB 1424
H
HC/Wellness
Orwall
Concerning suicide prevention.
Summary: Requires the department of health to adopt rules by June 30, 2016, establishing minimum
standards for the suicide assessment, treatment, and management training programs.
Educational opportunity gap
H Education
Santos
Implementing strategies to close the educational opportunity gap, based on the recommendations of
the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee.
HB 1541
Summary: Adopts the recommendations of the educational opportunity gap oversight and
accountability committee relating to: (1) Disproportionality in student discipline; (2) Educator cultural
competence; (3) Instructing English language learners; (4) English language learner accountability; (5)
Disaggregated student data; and (6) Recruitment and retention of educators.
Dual credit ed opportunities
HB 1546
(SB 5086)
H Education
Reykdal
Concerning dual credit opportunities provided by Washington state's public institutions of higher
education.
Summary: Modifies provisions relating to the college in the high school program and the running start
program.
Allergen info in pub schools
HB 1562
H Education
Sullivan
Requiring posting of allergen information in public schools.
Summary: Requires public schools to display allergen information on a conspicuous sign in a prominent
place within each area where food is served.
High school and beyond plans
H Education
Ortiz-Self
Concerning high school and beyond plans.
HB 1591
HB 1614
(SB 5544)
Summary: Requires each student to have a high school and beyond plan to guide the student's high
school experience and prepare the student for postsecondary education or training and career.
Requires the superintendent of public instruction, in collaboration with a nonprofit organization
representing school counselors, to: (1) Develop and disseminate an inventory of best practices for high
quality high school and beyond plans; and (2) Provide assistance to school districts in the development
and implementation of the plans.
K-12 employee wages
H Approps
Reykdal
Establishing comparable and professional wages for K-12 employees.
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January 30, 2015
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Summary: Phases in the compensation technical working group's recommendations for comparable,
market-based salaries for all K-12 staff and a revised compensation system for certificated instructional
staff.
Homeless students
H Education
Fey
Improving educational outcomes for homeless students through increased in-school guidance supports,
housing stability, and identification services.
HB 1682
(SB 5065)
Summary: Allows for homeless student education liaisons that will provide services to identified
homeless students. Requires the department of commerce, in consultation with the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, to administer a grant program that links homeless students and
their families with stable housing located in the homeless student's school district. This requirement is
null and void if funding is not provided by June 30, 2015, in the omnibus appropriations act.
High school assessmnt system
H Education
Santos
Modifying the high school assessment system by changing the administration of alternative
assessments, continuing the requirement for students to demonstrate achievement of state academic
standards to earn a high school diploma, and aligning the system with career and college ready
graduation requirements.
HB 1703
(SB 5520)
Summary: Implements a more efficient assessment system and provides additional pathways for
students to demonstrate academic proficiency required for graduation. Eliminates the statewide endof-course assessments for high school mathematics and the tenth grade assessments for reading and
writing and English language arts. Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to
develop a college readiness transition course in science to be piloted in high schools. Requires the
superintendent of public instruction to offer an online version of the college readiness transition course
in mathematics, English, and science through the digital learning department online course offerings.
Student skills
H Education
Senn
Providing students with skills that promote mental health and well-being and increase academic
performance.
HB 1760
(SB 5688)
Summary: Requires the superintendent of public instruction to convene a work group to recommend
comprehensive social emotional learning benchmarks for grades kindergarten through high school.
Requires educational service districts to develop and maintain the capacity to serve as a convener,
trainer, and mentor for educators and other school district staff on social emotional learning.
Authorizes school districts to use specific funding to develop and update school specific action plans to
implement multitiered systems of support frameworks and curriculum aligned with the frameworks.
Academic achievement certif.
H Education
Reykdal
Eliminating the certificate of academic achievement as a requirement for high school graduation.
HB 1785
Summary: Eliminates the assessment graduation requirements and the certificate of academic
achievement. Requires students who fail to meet the standard on the smarter balanced assessment to
take and pass locally determined courses in their senior year that align with their college or career
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January 30, 2015
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goals, including, when available, high school transition courses.
Learning assistance program
H Education
Sullivan
Concerning school-community learning assistance program action plans.
HB 1795
(SB 5690)
Summary: Requires school-community learning assistance program action plans detailing partnerships
with community-based organizations to be submitted annually to the office of the superintendent of
public instruction. Requires each school district using funds from the learning assistance program for
certain purposes to coordinate with relevant local community-based organizations that provide
educational or enhancement services to students eligible for the learning assistance program.
High-achieving HS students
H Hi Ed
MacEwen
Creating an informational program to increase applications from high-achieving low-income high
school students to selective institutions of higher education.
HB 1812
Summary: Requires the student achievement council to design and implement a program that provides
customized information to high-achieving, low-income high school students with the purpose of
increasing the number of applications from this group of students to four-year institutions of higher
education and independent, nonprofit baccalaureate degree-granting institutions in the state. Provides
that this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.
Local graduation requiremnts
HB 1855
H Education
Caldier
Waiving local graduation requirements for certain students.
Summary:
HB 1862
School counselors, etc.
Ortiz-Self
Concerning professional development for school counselors, social workers, and psychologists.
High school graduation
HB 1864
H Education
H Education
Kilduff
Supporting evidence-based strategies to promote high school graduation.
Revenue growth for education
S Rules 2
Hill
Prioritizing state revenue growth for education.
SSB 5063
(HB 1385)
Summary: Establishes the kids first act. Declares an intent to: (1) Prioritize K-12 education investments
in a manner designed to best achieve improved student outcomes; (2) Make college education more
affordable while increasing bachelor and graduate degree production, particularly in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; and (3) Increase opportunities for families to enroll in
high quality preschool and early learning programs. Provides for submission of this act to a vote of the
people.
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January 30, 2015
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Homeless students
S EL/K-12
Frockt
Improving educational outcomes for homeless students through increased in-school guidance supports,
housing stability, and identification services.
SB 5065
(HB 1682)
Summary: Allows for homeless student education liaisons that will provide services to identified
homeless students. Requires the department of commerce, in consultation with the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, to administer a grant program that links homeless students and
their families with stable housing located in the homeless student's school district. This requirement is
null and void if funding is not provided by June 30, 2015, in the omnibus appropriations act.
Dual credit educ. options
SSB 5080
S EDUDPS
Dammeier
Concerns
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Concerns
Concerning dual credit options.
Summary:
Dual credit ed opportunities
SB 5086
(HB 1546)
Concerning dual credit opportunities provided by Washington state's public institutions of higher
education.
Summary: Modifies provisions relating to the college in the high school program and the running start
program.
Precollege placement
SB 5122
S Higher Ed
Kohl-Welles
Concerning precollege placement measures.
Summary: Authorizes state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College to use
multiple measures to determine whether a student must enroll in a precollege course.
Identifiable student info
S EL/K-12
Dammeier
Concerning privacy and security of personally identifiable student information.
SB 5316
SB 5327
(HB 1363)
Summary: Prohibits the superintendent of public instruction and employees and contractors of the
superintendent, educational service districts' board of directors, employees, and contractors, and
school districts' board of directors, employees, and contractors from collecting, retaining, or using in
any manner, student biometric information. Requires the K-12 data governance group to: (1) Develop a
detailed data security plan and procedures to govern the use and maintenance of certain data systems;
and (2) Develop a model plan for school districts to use to safeguard personally identifiable studentlevel data at the school district level.
H.S. certificates/graduation
S EL/K-12
McCoy
Eliminating the requirement to obtain a certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual
achievement to graduate from high school.
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January 30, 2015
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Summary: Eliminates the certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual achievement
needed to graduate from high school.
Education T.O.
SB 5351
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Relating to education.
Summary: Introduced by title and introductory section only, relating to education.
Education T.O.
SB 5352
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Relating to education.
Summary: Introduced by title and introductory section only, relating to education.
SB 5393
Schools/exemplary
S EL/K-12
Litzow
performnce
Providing flexibility for schools recognized for exemplary performance under the Washington
achievement index.
Summary: Provides greater flexibility to schools that are recognized for exemplary performance.
Empowers schools and school districts to comply with fewer state mandates.
S Energy,
McAuliffe
Environ
Regulating trees and shrubs located near solar energy systems.
Solar energy syst/trees near
SB 5414
Summary: Requires specific and limited controls on trees and shrubs located near solar energy systems.
Breakfast after the bell
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Concerning breakfast after the bell programs.
SB 5437
(HB 1295)
Summary: Requires each high-needs school to offer breakfast after the bell to each student and provide
adequate time for students to eat. Requires the state to provide financial assistance to support the costs
of implementing breakfast after the bell programs at participating high-needs schools. Requires the
office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Develop and distribute procedures and
guidelines for the implementation of this act; and (2) Dedicate staff within the office to offer training
and technical and marketing assistance to public schools and school districts related to offering
breakfast after the bell.
Early care & education systm
SB 5452
(HB 1491)
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Improving quality in the early care and education system.
Summary: Establishes the early start act. Prioritizes the integration of child care and preschool in an
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January 30, 2015
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effort to promote full day programming. Rewards quality and creates incentives for providers to
participate in a quality rating and improvement system. Provides that this act is null and void if
appropriations are not approved.
S Ways &
Hasegawa
Means
Restoring cost-of-living increases for educational employees.
Education employee COLAs
SB 5469
(HB 1538)
Summary: Requires an incremental increase to base salary allocations to be provided to school districts
for school employees in addition to the required cost-of-living adjustments. Requires each college
district to receive an incremental allocation to increase academic employee salaries, including
mandatory salary-related benefits, in addition to the required cost-of-living adjustments. Requires each
technical college board of trustees to receive an incremental allocation to increase classified employee
salaries, including mandatory salary-related benefits, in addition to the required cost-of-living
adjustments. Addresses bonuses for certificated instructional staff.
S
Litzow
GovtOp&StSec
Concerning the confidentiality of educator professional growth plans.
Educator professional growth
SB 5495
(HB 1804)
Summary: Exempts from public inspection and copying under the public records act, professional
growth plans in educator license renewals submitted through the eCert system in the office of the
superintendent of public instruction.
Prof. educator standards brd
SB 5497
(HB 1771)
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Confirming that the professional educator standards board is an authorized representative of the state
educational agencies.
Summary: Clarifies that data exchanged between educator preparation programs and the state
professional educator standards board is subject to the federal educational rights and privacy act.
High school assessmnt system
S EL/K-12
Rolfes
Modifying the high school assessment system by changing the administration of alternative
assessments, continuing the requirement for students to demonstrate achievement of state academic
standards to earn a high school diploma, and aligning the system with career and college ready
graduation requirements.
SB 5520
(HB 1703)
Summary: Implements a more efficient assessment system and provides additional pathways for
students to demonstrate academic proficiency required for graduation. Eliminates the statewide endof-course assessments for high school mathematics and the tenth grade assessments for reading and
writing and English language arts. Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to
develop a college readiness transition course in science to be piloted in high schools. Requires the
superintendent of public instruction to offer an online version of the college readiness transition course
in mathematics, English, and science through the digital learning department online course offerings.
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January 30, 2015
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Bullying, etc., in schools
S EL/K-12
Liias
Preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying in public schools.
SB 5526
Summary: Requires each school district to: (1) Adopt or amend a transgender student policy and
procedure that at a minimum incorporates the model transgender student policy and procedure
created by the state school directors' association and share the policy with parents or guardians,
students, volunteers, and school employees; and (2) Designate one person in the district as the primary
contact regarding the transgender student policy. Requires the office of the superintendent of public
instruction to develop a statewide training class for those people who act as the primary contact.
K-12 employee wages
SB 5544
(HB 1614)
SB 5657
S EL/K-12
McAuliffe
Establishing comparable and professional wages for K-12 employees.
Summary: Phases in the compensation technical working group's recommendations for comparable,
market-based salaries for all K-12 staff and a revised compensation system for certificated instructional
staff.
School day
S EL/K-12
Mullet
extension/homewrk
Creating a pilot program to encourage school districts to extend the school day to provide homework
assistance to middle schools.
Summary: Establishes a pilot program to encourage school districts to extend the school day one hour
beyond the regular school day for the purpose of providing homework assistance to students. Makes
appropriations. Expires August 1, 2017.
High sch equivalency tests
S Higher Ed
Roach
Concerning the acceptance of additional high school equivalency tests.
SB 5676
(HB 1743)
Summary: Requires the state board for community and technical colleges to identify at least one high
school equivalency test option that: (1) Is low cost to the student; (2) Does not require computer
proficiency; and (3) Is appropriate for students who have been in the workforce, need a high school
diploma for employment reasons, have been incarcerated or in the military, have been removed from
any academic environment for four years or more, or are not planning to pursue a college education.
Student skills
S EL/K-12
Litzow
Providing students with skills that promote mental health and well-being and increase academic
performance.
SB 5688
(HB 1760)
Summary: Requires the superintendent of public instruction to convene a work group to recommend
comprehensive social emotional learning benchmarks for grades kindergarten through high school.
Requires educational service districts to develop and maintain the capacity to serve as a convener,
trainer, and mentor for educators and other school district staff on social emotional learning.
Authorizes school districts to use specific funding to develop and update school specific action plans to
implement multitiered systems of support frameworks and curriculum aligned with the frameworks.
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January 30, 2015
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Learning assistance program
S EL/K-12
Dammeier
Concerning school-community learning assistance program action plans.
SB 5690
(HB 1795)
Summary: Requires school-community learning assistance program action plans detailing partnerships
with community-based organizations to be submitted annually to the office of the superintendent of
public instruction. Requires each school district using funds from the learning assistance program for
certain purposes to coordinate with relevant local community-based organizations that provide
educational or enhancement services to students eligible for the learning assistance program.
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January 30, 2015
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