Earlier this morning, the House Education Committee moved four out of more than a dozen bills before the House policy deadline took effect. Left on the table were bills that would have authorized the 24-credit framework and fixing the 1,080 minimum instructional hours requirement.
3SHB 1680 passed out of committee on nearly a party-line vote, with Republican Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, joining all Democratic members to pass the bill from committee. The bill would implement recommendations from the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight & Accountability Committee, and ranges from changes to discipline to requiring bilingual instructors in ELL classes.
Democratic committee members turned down several amendments offered by ranking member Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw, designed to minimize the impact on school districts and students.
The bill moves to the House Appropriations Committee.
The House Education Committee also moved out SHB 2540, which would require school districts to grant course equivalency to CTE courses starting in the 2015-16 school year.
In the Senate, a majority voted in favor of SSB 5986, a bill that would restore basic education apportionment payments to 215 school districts that receive federal forest payments. Voting against the school-director supported bill were Senators McAuliffe, D-Bothell; Billig, D-Spokane; Mullet, D-Issaquah; and Cleveland, D-Vancouver.
The bill moves onto the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
