Below are bills related to education that we tracked during the 2021 legislative session. This page was updated weekly. For questions about our bill tracker, please contact us.

2021 Education bills


Bills that League of Education Voters were watching closely

Below were bills of high interest.

 

SummaryBillLead SponsorsStatus
Accountability.
Extending the time frame for establishing charter public schools.
1195Dolan (D-22)In committee
Accountability.
Promoting awareness of the governor's office of the education ombuds.
5376Wilson C (D-30)In committee
Early Learning.
Expanding accessible affordable child care and early childhood development programs.
1213 companion to SB 5237Senn (D-41)In committee
Early Learning.
Expanding accessible affordable child care and early childhood development programs.
5237 companion to HB 1213Wilson (D-30)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through state actions supported by federal funding.
1368 companion to SB 5344Ormsby (D-3)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through state actions supported by federal funding.
5344 companion to HB 1368Rolfes (D-23)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning student transportation funding during a local state or national emergency.
5128Wellman (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Increasing language access in public schools.
1153Orwall (D-33)In committee
Student Supports.
Modifying the Learning Assistance Program.
1208Santos (D-37)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning school-based health centers.
1225Stonier (D-49)Signed by Governor - Session Law

 


House Bills

Below are education-related bills that were introduced in the House.

 

SummaryBillLead SponsorsStatus
Accountability.
Concerning the powers and duties of educational service district boards.
1066Stonier (D-49)In committee
Accountability.
Concerning the time frame for establishing charter schools.
1079Dolan (D-22)In committee
Accountability.
Extending the time frame for establishing charter schools.
1195Dolan (D-22)In committee
Accountability.
Concerning school district elections.
1226Stonier (D-49)In committee
Accountability.
Concerning bond authorization training for school district boards of directors.
1306Sells (D-38)In committee
Accountability.
Prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names symbols or images as public school mascots logos or team names.
1356Lekanoff (D-40)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Accountability.
Adding a graduate student to the student achievement council.
1472Slatter (D-48)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Accountability.
Concerning the statewide first responder building mapping information system.
1484Dolan (D-22)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Accountability.
Establishing regional apprenticeship programs through educational service districts.
1536Maycumber (R-7)In committee
COVID Response.
Concerning creation of the statewide pandemic preparation and response task force.
1340Lovick (D-44)In committee
COVID Response.
Concerning safely reopening Washington.
1321 companion to SB 5114MacEwen (R-35)In committee
COVID Response.
Preserving public school resources during the COVID-19 emergency.
1338Harris (R-17)In committee
COVID Response.
Ensuring that critical school employees receive priority for receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine.
1420MacEwen (R-35)In committee
COVID Response.
Providing trauma-informed counseling and supports to students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
1444Rule (D-42)In committee
COVID Response.
Addressing enrollment declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1476Dolan (D-22)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Curriculum.
Reporting on updating and expanding deployment of existing government programs that provide education on bicycle and pedestrian travel.
1039McCaslin (R-4)In committee
Curriculum.
Concerning the public health knowledge of students in public school.
1149Pollet (D-46)In committee
Curriculum.
Extending comprehensive sexual health education compliance dates by one year.
1422MacEwen (R-35)In committee
Curriculum.
Concerning agriculture food and natural resource education.
1544Klippert (R-8)In committee
Dual Credit.
Concerning college in the high school programs.
1302Berg (D-44)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Early Learning.
Expanding accessible affordable child care and early childhood development programs.
1213 companion to SB 5237Senn (D-41)In committee
Early Learning.
Defining family resource centers.
1237Eslick (R-39)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Early Learning.
Suspending certain licensing requirements for child care providers.
1278Dent (R-13)In committee
Early Learning.
Concerning early learning facility impact fees.
1331Harris-Talley (D-37)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Early Learning.
Concerning grants for early learning facilities.
1370Callan (D-5)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Early Learning.
Concerning day care expenses paid by child support.
1397Klippert (R-8)In committee
Early Learning.
Concerning the entitlement date and definition for the early childhood education and assistance program.
1451Sullivan (D-47)In committee
Early Learning.
Concerning illegal unlicensed child care.
1454Gregerson (D-33)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning health care coverage for retired or disabled school employees.
1040Dolan (D-22)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Removing only one of the restrictions on the use of civil legal aid funds.
1072Lekanoff (D-40)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.
1093 companion to SB 5091Ormsby (D-3)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.
1094 companion to SB 5092Ormsby (D-3)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Providing parents and their children with more choices for a quality K-12 education through the K-12 education scholarship program.
1215Kraft (R-17)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Establishing an educational grant program to promote confidence public speaking and leadership skills in students.
1270Young (R-26)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Exempting school districts from the state portion of sales and use taxes on school construction.
1235Young (R-26)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning basic education salary review and rebase.
1266Sullivan (D-47)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Providing property tax relief by reducing both parts of the state school levies based on an amount that approximates the fiscal impact of extraordinary growth in property values that exceeded the valuation growth assumptions of budget writers when part two of the state school levy was enacted.
1358Orcutt (R-20)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Procuring and supporting appropriate computers and devices for public school students and instructional staff.
1365Gregerson (D-33)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Assisting Washington student athletes by prioritizing athletic scholarship funding.
1390Walsh (R-19)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning programs for highly capable students.
1404Vick (R-18)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches.
1342Berg (D-44)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through state actions supported by federal funding.
1368 companion to SB 5344Ormsby (D-3)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Promoting access to outdoor education.
1466Rule (D-42)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Creating a more progressive tax system in Washington by enacting an excise tax on sales and extraordinary profits of high valued assets.
1496Senn (D-41)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning regular financial audits of school districts.
1500Sullivan (D-47)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Modifying the workforce education investment act.
1504Chopp (D-43)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Concerning skill center class size.
1415Paul (D-10)In committee
Graduation Requirements.
Concerning the emergency waiver of graduation requirements.
1121Santos (D-37)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Graduation Requirements.
Concerning high school graduation credit and pathway options.
1162Stonier (D-49)In committee
Graduation Requirements.
Increasing the number of United States history and government credits required for graduation from a public high school.
1396Dufault (R-15)In committee
Graduation Requirements.
Promoting alternative methods for the earning of physical education credit.
1452Mosbrucker (R-14)In committee
Local Levies/LEA.
Authorizing tax increment financing for local governments.
1189 companion to SB 5211Duerr (D-1)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Local Levies/LEA.
Eliminating the state property tax levies over four years.
1371Sutherland (R-39)In committee
Local Levies/LEA.
Procuring and supporting the use of appropriate computers and devices for public school students and instructional staff by levying a tax on wireless devices.
1450Gregerson (D-33)In committee
New Revenue.
Modifying the sales and use tax for cultural access programs by allowing the tax to be imposed by a councilmanic or commission authority and defining timelines and priorities for action.
1058Bateman (D-22)In committee
Other K-12.
Concerning the emergency waiver of instructional hours and days at private schools.
1131Rude (R-16)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Concerning the completion of supervised experience through distance supervision.
1007Klippert (R-8)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Allowing additional renewals for behavioral health professional trainee and associate credentials.
1063Harris (R-17)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Notifying students of courses with low-cost instructional materials and open educational resources at the four-year institutions of higher education.
1119Jacobsen (R-25)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Ensuring price accuracy for tuition units in the guaranteed education tuition program.
1138Bergquist (D-11)In committee
Postsecondary.
Concerning access to higher education.
1176Paul (D-10)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Providing for equity and access in the community and technical colleges.
1318Pollet (D-46)In committee
Postsecondary.
Expanding scholarships for community and technical college students.
1425Taylor (D-30)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Increasing student access to mental health counseling and services at community and technical colleges.
1468Slatter (D-48)In committee
Postsecondary.
Expanding Washington college grant awards.
1517Hansen (D-23)In committee
Special Education.
Concerning youth eligible for developmental disability services who are expected to exit the child welfare system.
1061Senn (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning student health plans.
1009Thai (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Promoting a safe learning environment for students with seizure disorders.
1085Kloba (D-1)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning school attendance.
1113 companion to SB 5153Ortiz-Self (D-21)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Increasing language access in public schools.
1153Orwall (D-33)In committee
Student Supports.
Modifying the Learning Assistance Program.
1208Santos (D-37)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Providing K-12 public school safety and security services by classified staff or contractors.
1214Senn (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning school-based health centers.
1225Stonier (D-49)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Providing public education to youth in or released from institutional education facilities.
1295Callan (D-5)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Implementing policies related to children and youth behavioral health.
1325Callan (D-5)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Expanding access to the homeless and foster care college students pilot program.
1166Leavitt (D-28)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning suicide review teams.
1354Mosbrucker (R-14)In committee
Student Supports.
Requiring school districts to prioritize the resumption of in-person instruction to certain students following an emergency.
1366Caldier (R-26)In committee
Student Supports.
Promoting student access to information about behavioral health resources.
1373Callan (D-5)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Encouraging youth participation in fishing and shellfishing.
1431Rule (D-42)In committee
Student Supports.
Taking action to address lead in drinking water.
1139Pollet (D-46)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Standardizing homelessness definitions.
1221Rule (D-42)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning menstrual products in schools.
1273 companion to SB 5070Berg (D-44)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning juvenile rehabilitation.
1186Goodman (D-45)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Creating prison to postsecondary education pathways.
1044Leavitt (D-28)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Protecting the rights of families responding to allegations of abuse or neglect of a child.
1227Ortiz-Self (D-21)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Implementing the national 988 system to enhance and expand behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services.
1477Orwall (D-33)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Authorizing certain school employees to carry firearms on school grounds.
1481Chase (R-4)In committee
Student Supports.
Concerning exceptional foster care maintenance payments.
1347Caldier (R-26)In committee
Teacher Workforce.
Concerning evaluation and recommendation of candidates for residency teacher certification.
1028Bergquist (D-11)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Teacher Workforce.
Concerning early retirement options for members of the teachers' retirement system and school employees' retirement system plans 2 and 3.
1032Harris (R-17)In committee
Teacher Workforce.
Addressing secondary trauma in the K-12 workforce.
1363Ortiz-Self (D-21)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Teacher Workforce.
Adjusting experience factors for certificated instructional staff.
1419Dolan (D-22)In committee
Teacher Workforce.
Specifying minimum continuing education requirements for administrator and teacher certificate renewals that focus on equity-based school and classroom practices.
1426Santos (D-37)Signed by Governor - Session Law

 


Senate Bills

Below are education-related bills that were introduced in the Senate.

SummaryBillLead SponsorsStatus
Accountability.
Concerning school district consultation with local tribes.
5252Wellman (D-41)In committee
Accountability.
Concerning qualifications for school board directors.
5340Salomon (D-32)In committee
Accountability.
Promoting awareness of the governor's office of the education ombuds.
5376Wilson C (D-30)In committee
Accountability.
Concerning school district elections.
5386Randall (D-26)In committee
Accountability.
Increasing transparency in levy authorization information provided by school districts.
5334Dozier (R-16)In committee
Accountability.
Extending the time frame for establishing charter schools.
5443Mullet (D-5)In committee
Accountability.
Prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names symbols or images as public school mascots logos or team names.
5450Ericksen (R-42)In committee
COVID Response.
Establishing transparent school opening metrics tied to COVID-19 prevalence.
5037Braun (R-20)In committee
COVID Response.
Concerning safely reopening Washington.
5114Braun (R-20)In committee
Curriculum.
Requiring students to study political systems and the negative effects of communism.
5374Honeyford (R-15)In committee
Curriculum.
Teaching Washington's tribal history culture and government.
5161Wellman (D-41)In committee
Early Learning.
Concerning working connections child care eligibility and unemployment benefits.
5023Wilson (D-30)In committee
Early Learning.
Concerning foster care and child care licensing by the department of children youth and families.
5151Wilson (D-30)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Early Learning.
Expanding accessible affordable child care and early childhood development programs.
5237 companion to HB 1213Wilson (D-30)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Early Learning.
Prohibiting fees for child care licenses.
5136Wilson C (D-30)In committee
Early Learning.Establishing an early childhood court program for young children and their families involved or at risk of becoming involved in Washington's child welfare system.5331Gildon (R-25)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Concerning the effect of expenditure reduction efforts on retirement benefits for public employees including those participating in the shared work program.
5021Hunt (D-22)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Providing housing to school district employees.
5043Salomon (D-32)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning student transportation funding during a local state or national emergency.
5128Wellman (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Providing flexibility in the distribution and use of local funds dedicated to facilities used for youth educational programming.
5080Carlyle (D-36)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.
5091 companion to HB 1093Rolfes (D-23)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.
5092 companion to HB 1094 Rolfes (D-23)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Providing school districts serving low-income communities with flexibility in financing their facilities.
5181Honeyford (R-15)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Establishing school district depreciation subfunds for the purposes of preventative maintenance.
5202Schoesler (R-9)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Establishing a K-12 education voucher program.
5205Schoesler (R-9)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Exempting homeowners from the state and local enrichment property tax levies if their children attend private or home school.
5257Fortunato (R-31)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Prohibiting dual enrollment between school employees' benefits board and public employees' benefits board programs.
5322Robinson (D-38)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through state actions supported by federal funding.
5344 companion to HB 1368Rolfes (D-23)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Freezing wage and salaries and providing for furlough days during the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.
5323Rolfes (D-23)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning health and pension benefits for school bus drivers employed by private nongovernmental entities.
5326Robinson (D-38)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Increasing access to the Washington opportunity scholarship program.
5288Liias (D-21)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning unanticipated revenue.
5162Rolfes (D-23)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Supporting media literacy and digital citizenship.
5242Liias (D-21)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Concerning an excise tax on gains from the sale or exchange of certain capital assets.
5096Robinson (D-38)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Finance & Funding.
Concerning the funding of salaries of school district superintendents.
5442Van De Wege (D-24)In committee
Finance & Funding.
Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations and 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.
5451Wilson L (R-17)In committee
Graduation Requirements.
Allowing the use of computer science credits for the purpose of graduation requirements.
5299Wellman (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Local Levies/LEA.
Authorizing tax increment financing for local governments.
5211 companion to HB 1189Frockt (D-46)In committee
New Revenue.
Establishing a tax credit for contributions to student scholarship organizations.
5200Schoesler (R-9)In committee
Other K-12.
Exploring alternative school calendars.
5147Hawkins (R-12)In committee
Other K-12.
Declaring January as Chinese American history month and encouraging public schools to commemorate the month.
5264Wagoner (R-39)In committee
Other K-12.
Requiring the option of in-person learning unless prohibited by the governor secretary of health or a local health officer.
5464 Wilson L (R-17)In committee
Postsecondary.
Providing for equity and access in the community and technical colleges.
5194Liias (D-21)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Increasing the maximum Washington college grant award at independent institutions of higher education.
5215Conway (D-29)In committee
Postsecondary.
Requiring diversity equity inclusion and antiracism training and assessments at institutions of higher education.
5227Randall (D-26)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Expanding access to the college bound scholarship.
5321Nobles (D-28)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Authorizing community and technical colleges to offer bachelor degrees in computer science.
5401Nguyen (D-34)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Concerning the advanced college tuition payment program.
5430Mullet (D-5)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Postsecondary.
Creating the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship.
5431Randall (D-26)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Developing comprehensive school counseling programs.
5030Mullet (D-5)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning professional learning equity cultural competency and dismantling institutional racism in the public school system.
5044Das (D-47)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Concerning school attendance.
5153 companion to HB 1113Wilson (D-30)In committee
Student Supports.
Establishing a building point of contact in all K-12 public schools for students in foster care.
5184Nobles (D-28)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Supporting mastery-based learning.
5249Wellman (D-41)Signed by Governor - Session Law
Student Supports.
Creating a confidential youth safety and well-being tip line.
5327Brown (R-8)In committee
Student Supports.
Concerning menstrual products in schools.
5070 companion to HB 1273Rivers (R-18)In committee
Student Supports.
Creating a bridge year pilot program.
5265Hunt (D-22)In committee
Teacher Workforce.
Concerning teacher certification.
5057Hasegawa (D-11)In committee
Teacher Workforce.
Creating teaching endorsements in computer science.
5389Wellman (D-41)In committee

 


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