Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
SSB 5497
Brief Description: Extending voting authority to student members on the state board of education.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Wilson, C., Nobles, Conway, Das, Hunt, Lovelett, Lovick, Nguyen, Salda?a and Wellman; by request of State Board of Education).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Extends voting authority to the two student members of the State Board of Education (SBE) except in matters directly relating to graduation requirement changes that apply to their school and graduating class.
  • Makes corresponding changes to quorum requirements for the transaction of business by the SBE.
Hearing Date: 2/18/22
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:

With origins predating statehood, the 16-member State Board of Education (SBE) is comprised of five members elected by geographic regions by school directors, one member elected by private school directors, seven members appointed by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and two non-voting student members.  Eight voting members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the SBE.
 
The SBE has various duties and powers prescribed in statute, including:

  •  providing advocacy and strategic oversight of public education;
  •  establishing high school graduation requirements or equivalencies;
  •  identifying scores students must meet to achieve standard on statewide assessments; and
  •  accrediting private schools.
Summary of Bill:

Voting authority is extended to the two student members of the SBE, but they must excuse themselves from voting on matters directly relating to graduation requirement changes that apply to their school and graduating class.
 
With the change in voting membership, the number of SBE members constituting a quorum is increased from eight to nine.  However, if one or more student member of the SBE is excused from voting on a matter directly relating to graduation requirement changes, eight voting members of the SBE constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.