House approves bill on emergency waivers for high school students
In a 85-11 vote, state representatives on Wednesday approved legislation, including a bill allowing school districts to provide emergency waivers for graduation requirements.
House Bill 1121 would authorize the state Board of Education to permit public and private high schools to offer student emergency waivers if a local, state or national emergency occurs, according to the bill’s text.
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-Seattle, is the primary sponsor of HB 1121. Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, is also co-sponsoring the bill.
During the virtual floor debate, Tomiko Santos referred to the final days of the 2020 state legislative session, when legislators needed to pass a bill addressing COVID-19 in the state.
Tomiko Santos said the class of 2020 benefited from the legislation passed last session because it authorized the SBE to grant emergency waivers.
“The class of 2021 is no different,” Tomiko Santos said. “If this bill does not pass, the sense of hope … will be dashed.”
Ybarra voted in favor of HB 1121, but he said he is “a little conflicted” because other representatives had amendments — not adopted to the bill — that looked to establish more accountability with school entities.
“This year, we have time to think about the legislation (and) think about some amendments … to tighten things up,” Ybarra said during the virtual floor debate, “but at the end of the day, we have those kids … and they will need waivers.”
Ybarra’s amendment, requiring school districts to have records of district staff supporting students before considering emergency waivers, was adopted to HB 1121.
“This amendment tightens up the bill itself so there’s some accountability with the school districts,” Ybarra said.
Another part of Ybarra’s amendment would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue data on emergency waivers to the SBE by Nov. 1 every year.
The SBE would also be required to present a data summary to legislators in education committees by Dec. 15, under Ybarra’s amendment. The data summary would have information like the total number of emergency waivers issued.
Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan, voted against HB 1121. He had an amendment that was not adopted to the bill, which would require — not permit — the SBE to adopt rules needed to conduct the emergency waiver program.
“This amendment is very friendly to the bill, and we’ll add some accountability that I think we’re very much seeking,” Steele said during the virtual floor debate.
Rep. Lisa Callan, D-Issaquah, said during the virtual floor debate it is impossible to see what an emergency may bring, so it is important not to tie down the hands of the SBE.
Steele had another amendment that was not adopted to HB 1121. That amendment would specify the term “emergency” as a period — between March 1 and June 30 — of 30 or more school days in which students do not have access to schoolwork.
Steele said he offered “friendly amendments” to perfect the bill, and the amendments were not designed to kill the bill.
“I know we have to offer up these waivers,” Steele said, “but we should do so with a lens toward … accountability and rigor.”
Other bills that passed the House floor include HB 1131, HB 1049, and HB 1052. All House bills will move to the respective Senate committees.