Investing in Special Education and Traveling Town Halls 

January 25, 2025

Friends and neighbors, 

I have long fought for fully funding our state’s special education needs. Specifically, I have fought to eliminate the cap on special education funding. I believe capping how many students with disabilities our state supports is simply unconscionable. Washington’s students with disabilities deserve funding to have the same opportunities to learn and grow as every other student. Failure to fund special education represents at least half of most schools’ budget deficits. If we don’t fund special education this session, schools across the state will be forced to lay off staff, including in Seattle Public Schools. 

Many students with intellectual and developmental disabilities need support until they are into adulthood, so they can be set up to thrive. Additionally, if a parent suspects that their child may need additional services to succeed in school, the process for being evaluated and receiving services should happen quickly and efficiently so that learning can continue. Finally, enhanced funding eases burdens for families by ensuring schools can offer comprehensive services without relying on parents to fill the funding gaps. 

For these reasons, I have introduced a series of bills to fund and expand special education services for Washington students. 

 

HB 1310 – Increases state funding for special education, including by eliminating the special education funding cap. Paving the way for our state to fully fund special education. This bill is being heard in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, January 30th. You can sign up to testify in person, in writing, or virtually. 

HB 1257 – Extends special education services to the age of 22. This brings our state in line with a court case and helps support our special education students into adulthood. 

HB 1241 – Ensures that parents can get information on special education services and have their student evaluated for appropriate services in a timely manner. This will help parents advocate for their children. 

HB 1528 – Improves outcomes and efficacy for students by providing a centralized and standardized platform for managing and creating Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) throughout the state.  IEPs are a critical tool for special education students and teachers. 

HB 1295 – This bill helps students by identifying reading difficulties, like dyslexia, and implements research-based suggestions and strategies for helping all students improve their reading skills. 

Credit: LSS Photography

HB 1284 – Pays for our special education needs. It does so by eliminating a B&O Tax Deduction on business investment income. This is especially important in a year when our state’s general fund is facing budget challenges. 

I will continue to fight for our special education students. We are not doing enough for them and must end the unconscionable cap on special education services and work toward fully funding their supports. 

Traveling Town Halls. 

Throughout the legislative session, I hold a series of drop-in traveling town halls. These provide you with an opportunity to share your ideas, concerns, and questions with me. I have three upcoming traveling town halls – one in person and two virtual. I hope to hear from you at one of these events. 

  • Saturday, January February 1st (in-person)
    Time: 10:15-11:30 AM
    Location: Northgate Library Meeting Room, 10548 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125 

I will have more traveling town hall options later in the legislative session. Stay tuned for information about those events. 

Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. The government works best when it is accessible, transparent, and responsive. I have made this commitment to you and look forward to you continuing to make your voices heard. 

Thank you,

Rep. Gerry Pollet