The Senate passed ESHB 2586, by a vote of 43-5, sending the bill back to the House for agreement on the changes adopted on the Senate floor. This bill is informally called the WaKIDS bill, and refers to a kindergarten readiness inventory conducted during the initial weeks of the start of school.
The changes by the Senate would direct OSPI to convene a stakeholder group to review some of the issues raised during the session on implementation of the readiness tool. Teachers, parents, principals, and others would be part of the working group. The preliminary report is due December 1, 2012, with a final report due the following year.
In addition, while there is still a goal of full implementation by the 2014-15 school year, the bill allows for school districts to continue to apply to OSPI for an annual waiver from the requirement until all-day kindergarten is funded by the state.
The bill was a compromise on some of the amendments that had been added in the Senate policy and fiscal committees. It is expected to receive concurrence by the House.
Of the bills remaining on the Senate and House calendar, the only major education bill that remains is SSB 6442, the bill that would consolidate the K-12 health benefits system into a state program. With the clock ticking down to today's 5 p.m. deadline, it looks like many bills will be left on the calendar or in Rules.
Once the deadline ends, typically only bills that are necessary to implement the budget will be considered, along with budget bills.
Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
