SB 6300 — School learning standards

Summary

Authorizing school districts to adopt alternative learning standards.

Bill Text

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 12 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 28A.150.220; RCW 28A.320.230; RCW 28A.655.070; RCW 28A.190.140; RCW 28A.230.055; RCW 28A.230.300.

• RCW 28A.150.220

  (5) (6) (7) → beginning in the 2015-16 school year to at least 1,080 instructional hours for students enrolled in grades nine through 12 and at least 1,000 instructional hours for students in grades one through eight, all of which may be calculated by a school district using a district- wide annual average of instructional hours over grades one through 12; and (b) For students enrolled in kindergarten, at least 450 instructional hours, which shall be increased to at least 1,000 instructional hours according to the implementation schedule under (3) The instructional program of basic education provided by each school district shall include: (a) Instruction in the state learning standards under RCW 28A.655.070 or in district alternative learning standards under subsection (4) of this section; (b) Instruction that provides students the opportunity to complete 24 credits for high school graduation. Course distribution requirements may be established by the state board of education under (c) If the state learning standards include a requirement of languages other than English, the requirement may be met by students receiving instruction in one or more American Indian languages; (d) Supplemental instruction and services for students who are not meeting academic standards through the learning assistance program under RCW 28A.165.005 through 28A.165.065; (e) Supplemental instruction and services for eligible and enrolled students and exited students whose primary language is other than English through the transitional bilingual instruction program under RCW 28A.180.010 through 28A.180.080; (f) The opportunity for an appropriate education at public expense as defined by RCW 28A.155.020 for all eligible students with disabilities as defined in RCW 28A.155.020; and (g) Programs for highly capable students under RCW 28A.185.010 through 28A.185.030. (4) As an alternative to the state learning standards in RCW 28A.655.070, a school district board of directors may develop or adopt alternative learning standards for use within the school district. District alternative learning standards must be: (a) Consistent with the student learning goals under RCW 28A.150.210 as determined by the office of the superintendent of public instruction; and (b) Published on the district's website and filed with the office of the superintendent of public instruction. (5) ing e ivid of urs (6) bas edu e f ye 1 s lit as sc l y m o asi er hoo ct, nd gar , t y a 0.3 ) S ols elo g s sc l y ren nvo ) I he ol tri cho yea d th u th d a f ise ve 8A. .26 tru ona ts ll tio 2)( (7) school district determines to be appropriate for the education of the school district's students. (8) The state board of education shall adopt rules to implement and ensure compliance with the program requirements imposed by this section, RCW 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260, and such related supplemental program approval requirements as the state board may establish.

  amended

• RCW 28A.320.230

  are each reenacted and amended to read as follows: (1) Every board of directors, unless otherwise specifically provided by law, shall: (a) In accordance with RCW 28A.345.130 or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4)

  amended

• RCW 28A.655.070

  (14) The superintendent shall post on the superintendent's website lists of resources and model assessments in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness. (15) The superintendent shall integrate financial education skills and content knowledge into the state learning standards pursuant to RCW 28A.300.460(2)(d). (16)(a) The superintendent shall notify the state board of education in writing before initiating the development or revision of the state learning standards under subsections (1) and (2) of this section. The notification must be provided to the state board of education in advance for review at a regularly scheduled or special board meeting and must include the following information: (i) The subject matter of the state learning standards; (ii) The reason or reasons the superintendent is initiating the development or revision; and (iii) The process and timeline that the superintendent intends to follow for the development or revision. (b) The state board of education may provide a response to the superintendent's notification for consideration in the development or revision process in (a) of this subsection. (c) Prior to adoption by the superintendent of any new or revised state learning standards, the superintendent shall submit the proposed new or revised state learning standards to the state board of education in advance in writing for review at a regularly scheduled or special board meeting. The state board of education may provide a response to the superintendent's proposal for consideration prior to final adoption. (17) The state board of education may propose new or revised state learning standards to the superintendent. The superintendent must respond to the state board of education's proposal in writing. (18) The superintendent shall produce and post on its website a schedule for the revision of state learning standards under subsection (2) of this section by September 1, 2025. In addition to notifying parents, schools, and the public of the revision schedules and timelines, the website posting must be updated as necessary to inform persons of the status of any pending revisions, and of any plans or actions related to developing new state learning standards under subsection (1) of this section. (19) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the review of district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4). The superintendent's review under this subsection is limited to ensuring that district alternative learning standards are consistent with the student learning goals under RCW 28A.150.210.

  amended

• RCW 28A.190.140

  state → read as follows: (1) Subject to the availability and sufficiency of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose in addition to the amounts appropriated through the institutional education funding formulas specified in the omnibus appropriations act, and subject to staffing availability, each school district operating an institutional education program for youth in state long-term juvenile institutions must provide an opportunity to access an elective computer science course in accordance with RCW 28A.230.300(1). (2) If, due to facility or technology security limitations, a school district cannot provide a computer science course that is fully aligned with all state computer science learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4), the school district must adapt the course curriculum and instructional activities to align with as many computer science learning standards as possible. (3) Each school district operating an institutional education program for youth in state long-term juvenile institutions must annually report the following information to the office of the superintendent of public instruction: (a) Data indicating the number of students who enrolled in a computer science course in the prior school year, disaggregated by gender, race, ethnicity, and age; (b) A brief description of each computer science course and whether the course is fully aligned to state computer science learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4); and (c) A brief description of any facility or technology security limitations that prevent the school district from offering a course fully aligned with state computer science learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4)

  amended

• RCW 28A.230.055

  read as follows: (1) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, all school districts must conduct an annual review of their physical education programs that includes: (a) The number of individual students completing a physical education class during the school year; (b) The average number of minutes per week of physical education received by students in grades one through eight, expressed in appropriate reporting ranges; (c) The number of students granted waivers from physical education requirements; (d) An indication of whether all physical education classes are taught by instructors who possess a valid health and fitness endorsement; (e) The physical education class sizes, expressed in appropriate reporting ranges; (f) The frequency with which physical education is provided to students; (g) An indication of whether there is sufficient dedicated gym space and sheltered areas to support the minimum amount of physical activity required of students by law or agency rule; (h) An indication of whether the physical education curriculum of the district addresses the Washington state K-12 learning standards or the district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4) data protocols and guidance for school districts in the collection of data to provide a clearer understanding of physical education instructional minutes and certification.

  amended

• RCW 28A.230.300

  read as follows: (1) Beginning no later than the 2022-23 school year, each school district that operates a high school must, at a minimum, provide an opportunity to access an elective computer science course that is available to all high school students. School districts are encouraged to consider community-based or public-private partnerships in establishing and administering a course, but any course offered in accordance with this section must be aligned to the state learning standards for computer science or mathematics or the district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4) aligned to state computer science learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4)

  amended

• RCW 28A.230.305

  provided in the school district's written leave policy required by (4) Instruction under this section must be solely for the arts discipline in the skills and craft of each specific arts discipline as their own end, rather than as a vehicle to enhance learning in any other nonarts subject area. If schools wish to integrate or infuse the arts into other subject matter, they must do so in addition to the regular, formal arts instruction required by this section. (5) The arts instructors in each school district, as subject matter experts, shall be consulted to determine which specific visual and performing arts courses to offer at given grade levels, so that instruction is properly aligned to state learning standards in the arts or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4) ,

  amended

• RCW 28A.300.475

  satisfying the requirements of this subsection (1)(a)(ii)(B), school district boards of directors must also, no later than the 2020-21 school year, consult with parents and guardians of students, local communities, and the Washington state school directors' association. (b) A public school may choose to use separate, outside speakers or prepared curriculum to teach different content areas or units within its comprehensive sexual health education program if all speakers, curriculum, and materials used are in compliance with this section. (c) Comprehensive sexual health education must be consistent with the Washington state health and physical education K-12 learning standards or the district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4) protected classes under chapter 49.60 RCW. Comprehensive sexual health education for students in kindergarten through grade three must be instruction in social-emotional learning that is consistent with learning standards and benchmarks adopted by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.300.478 or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4)

  amended

• RCW 28A.320.600

  developed by a national organization representing school counselors. The written plan must: (1) Establish a comprehensive school counseling program that uses state and nationally recognized counselor frameworks and is systemically aligned to state learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4); (2) Provide a process for identifying student needs through a multilevel school data review and analysis that includes, at a minimum, use-of-time data, program results data, and data regarding communication with administrators, parents, students, and stakeholders; (3) Explain how direct and indirect services will be delivered through the comprehensive school counseling program; and (4) Establish an annual review and assessment process for the comprehensive school counseling program that includes building administrators and stakeholders.

  amended

• RCW 28A.400.312

  to read as follows: (1) School district employees and directors may not take an adverse employment action against any employee of the school district for: (a) Supporting students in the exercise of their legal rights, including their right to a learning environment with historically and scientifically accurate information that: Includes the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups as provided in RCW 28A.345.130; and provides students with an appreciation for the contributions and perspectives of diverse, global cultures; or (b) Performing work in a manner consistent with RCW 28A.642.080, 28A.642.020, 28A.605.005, 28A.320.209, and 28A.230.005 and section 201, chapter 369, Laws of 2025. (2) In addition to the prohibitions established in subsection (1) of this section, school district employees and directors may not take an adverse employment action against a teacher of the school district for: (a) Instructing students in a manner consistent with state learning standards when the school district board of directors has not adopted district alternative learning standards under RCW 28A.150.220(4) (b) Using instructional materials approved in accordance with RCW 28A.320.230 that are culturally and experientially representative, including materials on the study of the role and contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class under RCW 28A.642.010 and 28A.640.010. (3) For the purposes of this section, an "adverse employment action" includes termination, demotion, suspension, discipline, denial of promotion, reassignment, negatively impacting the evaluation of certificated staff under RCW 28A.405.100, removal from, or denying access to, a supplemental contract, or otherwise taking any negative employment action against the employee. (4) This section governs school operation and management under established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-tribal education compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW to the same extent as it applies to school districts.

  amended

• RCW 28A.415.430

  , [goals] 28A.300.602 → read as follows: (1) The term "professional learning" means a comprehensive, sustained, job-embedded, and collaborative approach to improving teachers' and principals' effectiveness in raising student achievement. Professional learning fosters collective responsibility for improved student performance and must comprise learning that is aligned with student learning needs, educator development needs, and school district or state improvement goals. Professional learning shall have as its primary focus the improvement of teachers' and school leaders' effectiveness in assisting all students to meet the state learning standards or the district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4) (4) Professional learning should include the work of established collaborative teams of teachers, school leaders, and other administrative, instructional, and educational services staff members, who commit to working together on an ongoing basis to accomplish common goals and who are engaged in a continuous cycle of professional improvement that is focused on: (a) Identifying student and educator learning needs using multiple sources of data; (b) Defining a clear set of educator learning goals based on the rigorous analysis of these multiple data sources and the collective and personalized learning needs of teachers and administrators; (c) Continuously assessing the effectiveness of the professional learning in achieving identified learning goals, improving teaching, and assisting all students in meeting state academic learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under h re ction, obse ion, and s format and mmative me es to ass f profe nal l ing in ach g educator ing th three imary purp for prof Individ impro nt aligned h individua nd tea mprov t aligned h school a goals and (iii) ram implem nd school rovement go ld be facil ed by well- incorporate wledge, ski al learning adults and 28A.415.432 (a) Address defined student and educator learning goals; (b) Include, but are not limited to, courses, workshops, institutes, networks, studio residencies, virtual learning modules, and conferences provided by for-profit and nonprofit entities outside the school such as universities, educational service districts, technical assistance providers, networks of content specialists, and other education organizations and associations; and (c) Advance ongoing school-based professional learning that occurs throughout the year with opportunities for regular practice and feedback while developing new skills.

  amended

• RCW 28A.700.060

  to read as follows: (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the council of presidents shall work with local school districts, workforce education programs in colleges, tech prep consortia, and four-year institutions of higher education to develop model career and technical education programs of study as described by this section. (2) Career and technical education programs of study: (a) Incorporate secondary and postsecondary education elements; (b) Include coherent and rigorous academic content aligned with state learning standards or district alternative learning standards adopted under RCW 28A.150.220(4)

  amended

Action History

1. January 23, 2026

   First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

Sponsors

• (McCune) · Primary

Subjects