WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

New law a “three-for” for students, schools, accountability

Talk about a win-win-win. It’s not often that legislation comes along promoting better education for at-risk students, stronger accountability for schools, and increased efficiency for local governments — all in the same bill.

Sponsored by Rep. June Robinson and newly signed into the law of the state, House Bill 2276 is just such a measure. The bipartisan bill will allow the state’s Educational Service Districts (ESDs) to contract directly with a county for education services for students who are temporarily residing in the county’s detention center. Old state law directed that contracts had to be signed between the ESD and specific local school districts — and between the school districts and the county.

The measure unanimously passed both the House and Senate in the legislative session earlier this year. Robinson said the new law she sponsored “won’t increase the cost of providing a good education for these youngsters. It will actually result in savings for school districts that are involved in this process. The new law simply clarifies this area of state policy.”

Check this press release for even more details.