| Making Democracy Work® Fully fund K-12 and increase funding for student support services, including broadband access. Issue Team Chair: Catherine Ahl, cahl@lwvwa.org |
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Overview The League believes that the state has the responsibility to provide ample and equal opportunity for education, to amply fund both education and those social services needed to ensure that every child is ready to learn and safe, and to fully fund all programs mandated by the legislature. The League also believes citizen participation should be encouraged at all levels. During the 2022 legislative session the League will be advocating for full funding for special education and increased funding for student support staff (nurses, counselors, social workers, etc.).
League priority bills are in bold below.
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| House Bills | House | Senate | After Passage | |||||||||
| Bill # | Bill Name (Brief Title) | League Position | Take Action | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | Passed Legislature | On Governor's Desk | Signed |
| HB 1590 | Enrollment stabilization funding for local school levies to address enrollment declines | Supports | ||||||||||
| HB 1591 | Provides access to local enrichment funding for charter schools. Opposes | Opposes | |
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| HB 1630 | Makes it unlawful to carry a firearm onto facilities being used for official meetings of a school district board of directors | Supports | ||||||||||
| HB 1664 | Increases prototypical school formulas by increasing the number of school nurses | Supports | ||||||||||
| HB 1723 | Increases the accessibility and affordability of telecommunication services, devices, and training | Supports | ||||||||||
These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass.
HB 1590 / SB 5563 Enrollment stabilization funding for local school levies to address enrollment declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HB 1591 Provides access to local enrichment funding for charter schools. Funding for school districts is provided through levies approved by the voters, which doesn't include extra state funding for charter schools.
HB 1630 Makes it unlawful to carry a firearm onto facilities being used for official meetings of a school district board of directors. This would also apply to city, town, county and other municipality buildings being used for public meetings.
HB 1633 Family Empowerment Scholarship Program would provide vouchers for homeschooling or private schools. Public funding should go to the public schools as the Constitution requires.
HB 1664 Increases prototypical school formulas for physical, social, and emotional support in schools by increasing the number of school nurses.
HB 1723 Closes the digital equity divide by increasing the accessibility and affordability of telecommunication services, devices, and training.
SB 5497 Extends voting authority to student members on the state board of education.
SB 5537 Changes compulsory school attendance to include children five, six, and seven years of age. Washington is the only state that requires school attendance beginning with children who are eight years of age. LWVWA has supported this change for many years.
SB 5595 Increases prototypical school formulas for physical, social, and emotional support staff, plus additional increases of the number of school nurses.
SB 5568 Provides that cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may enact laws and ordinances restricting the open carry of firearms or other weapons at any public meeting; any building or facility owned or operated by a city, town, county, or other municipality; or any permitted demonstration within their respective jurisdictions.
SB 5630 Expands the program of basic education to include early learning. Early learning would be phased in for three and four year-olds starting in the 2026-27 school year and making it an entitlement by the 2029-30 school year. LWVWA has had a position that basic education should include birth to five years. This is a start.
How To Be Involved
- Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have education teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
- You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Catherine Ahl, Education Issue Chair, cahl@lwvwa.org.