March 2, 2015
Dear Catholic school leader,
The Legislature is now in its eighth week, and almost to the mid-point of the 2015 session. Friday, February 27th marked an important deadline as all bills, unless they are necessary to implement the budget, must have passed their original committee as well as their fiscal committee, if the bill required funding. Bills that did not pass are considered "dead", but "resurrection" is sometimes possible.
March 11th is the next deadline when bills must be voted out of their house of origin (either the Senate or the House) or they will be considered "dead."
SB 5083, which WSCC supports, would create a program to spread awareness among student athletes, their parents and coaches regarding sudden cardiac arrest. Resources such as an online portal and informational meetings would be developed to improve awareness. Roughly 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States every year. Spreading awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, including warning signs, prevention, and treatment will save lives. SB 5083 was amended and was unanimously passed by the entire Senate. It is now in the House Education Committee.
Early Learning
HB 1491 / SB 5452 seek to improve quality in the early care and education system. Overwhelming evidence suggests that quality early learning builds the foundation for a child's success in school and life. For Catholic schools that have provided excellent early learning resources for many years, our educators and parents agree wholeheartedly.
Both bills are designed to increase the number of children participating in quality early learning programs. The initial emphasis is on children who are subsidized by state programs. Catholic teaching recognizes the primacy of parents as educators of their children, and the legislation allows for parents to voluntarily participate in state early learning programs. The bills do not mandate that schools participate in Early Achievers, the state's quality rating system, unless the program receives state subsidies.
HB 1491 and SB 5452 both passed their original committees and fiscal committees. WSCC's amendment to ensure that Catholic schools can continue to carry out their mission was added to HB 1491.
HB 1126 requires the Department of Early Learning (DEL) to convene a child fatality review committee and to investigate fatal and near fatal accidents. When there is an accident that results in a fatality at an early learning center, there should be an investigation to prevent it from happening again. WSCC supports HB 1126 and is monitoring it to ensure that review processes are designed to create safe environments for children and reasonable requirements that schools can adopt. HB 1126 was amended and passed by the Early Learning and Human Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee, it is now in the Rules Committee.
Curriculum and Assessment
SB 5688 requires the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to convene a workgroup to recommend comprehensive social emotional learning benchmarks for grades kindergarten through high school that build upon what is being done in early learning. This bill represents a starting point for "comprehensive social emotional learning benchmarks." The benchmarks would include self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making at each grade level. SB 5688 was passed by the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The bill is in the Rules Committee.
HB 1511, currently schools are encouraged to incorporate the history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe(s), HB 1511 would require this incorporation and that it be developed by OSPI. This bill passed its committee of origin, and is now in the Rules Committee.
Subsidized Meals
HB 1295 / SB 5437 would require high-needs schools to offer school breakfast after the beginning of the school day, called Breakfast After the Bell (BAB), starting with the 2016-17 school year. This legislation would also require the state to provide financial assistance to support the costs of implementing a BAB program at these schools. Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. Experts cite improved student outcomes, fewer discipline issues and better attendance. There are many Catholic schools that provide programs of free or reduced lunch and breakfast. WSCC is closely monitoring these bills to see if Catholic schools in lower income communities are eligible to receive financial support to offer school breakfast after the beginning of the school day. Both bills not only passed their original committees, but also the fiscal committees. Each is now in its respective Rules Committee.
Student Safety
SB 5526: building on the existing anti-bullying laws in the state, SB 5526 would mandate that each school have a transgender student policy created by the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA). Each school district must share this policy with parents or guardians, students, volunteers, and school employees in accordance with rules adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI). SB 5526 was passed by the Early Learning & Education Committee and is now in the Rules Committee.
Certification
HB 1293 / SB 5179 seek to establish new criteria and certification requirements for paraeducators. Many Catholic schools communities have paraeducators, or someone working under the supervision of a certificated staff member to support instructional services. WSCC is monitoring this bill to ensure that new criteria is reasonable to produce safe and excellent learning environments. HB 1293 had a hearing in the House Committee on Education, but was not voted out of committee. It is considered "dead." SB 5129 was amended and has passed both the Early Learning Committee and the Ways & Means Committee. It is now in the Rules Committee.
HB 1770 / SB 5496 repeal the current statute that describes, in detail, each of the four Alternate Route certification programs and grant the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) the authority to establish policies based on expectations for program outcomes. A new framework is created for PESB's approval of new nontraditional teacher preparation programs. HB 1770 has passed its original committees and is now in the Rules Committee. SB 5496 was amended and passed in committee, and is now on the floor of the Senate ready to be voted upon by the entire Senate.
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