OLYMPIA – The Washington State House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed House Bill 2534, sponsored by Rep. Clyde Shavers, D–Clinton, to make school transfers smoother and faster for military-affiliated students.
“Our service members don’t get to choose when the call comes – they just answer it,” said Shavers. “For students, that uncertainty can translate into missed class time, delayed enrollment, and weeks spent trying to catch up – not because they’re behind, but because the system makes moving harder than it needs to be.”
House Bill 2534 establishes clear, reasonable standards that make it easier for families to transfer records and begin the enrollment process when a move is driven by military orders. Under this bill, military families can start the transfer process by providing notification of a change of station to installations in or bordering Washington, and/or documentation showing they are relocating due to deployment.
“This bill is about keeping a promise to military families – that when you serve, your state will serve you back,” Shavers said. “It’s Washington saying: we see you, we value you, and we’re going to make sure your child stays on track. A child’s education should not be interrupted by a parent’s duty station.”
Receiving unanimous support, House Bill 2534 now heads to the Senate for consideration.