Dropout prevention, STEM education, and closing the opportunity gap took center stage in the state House Friday as a package of education bills was approved and sent to the Senate.
“Our priorities are clearly best for all kids and our public schools,” said Rep.
Marcie Maxwell, the Deputy Majority Leader for Education and Opportunity. “The House is focused on support for quality
teaching and learning. We’re working on
strategic policy and budget decisions that make significant investments in
education funding and ensure successful implementation of the real reforms
we’ve recently enacted."
Here's the press release for the whole package, which includes these key bills:
HB 1276 creates a pilot
program with school districts and community organizations, like food banks and
small farms to target at-risk youth.
HB 1424aims to close the
opportunity gap by providing families, schools, and communities with the tools
they need to increase the number of on-time graduations. This bill will give
local communities additional resources to detect early warning signs of a
potential and intervene with appropriate measures.
HB 1872, creates a STEM Education Innovation Alliance made up of leaders from
business and education fields. The alliance will align STEM education initiatives in early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education and is a key
piece of Governor Inslee’s Working
Washington
agenda.
HB 1252 will create an online framework for professional development opportunities for
educators in Washington.
