Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

Sec. 1. "RCW 28A.160.200 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 10 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent shall develop a reimbursement schedule to pay districts for the cost of student transportation vehicles purchased after September 1, 1982. While it is the responsibility of each district to select and pay for each student transportation vehicle purchased by the district, each district shall be paid a sum based on the category of vehicle, anticipated lifetime of vehicles of this category, and state reimbursement rate for the category plus inflation as recognized by the reimbursement schedule established in this section as set by the superintendent. Categories and reimbursement rates of vehicles shall be those established under RCW 28A.160.195. The accumulated value of the payments and the potential investment return thereon shall be designed to be equal to the replacement cost of the vehicle less its salvage value at the end of its anticipated lifetime. Beginning with buses that are scheduled for depreciation payments as of September 2025 and those qualifying for payments after that date, the superintendent shall use a minimum anticipated lifetime of 120 months for category A buses and 180 months for category C and D buses. The superintendent shall revise at least annually the reimbursement payments based on the current and anticipated future cost of comparable categories of transportation equipment. Reimbursements to school districts for approved transportation equipment shall be placed in a separate transportation vehicle fund established for each school district under RCW 28A.160.130. However, educational service districts providing student transportation services pursuant to RCW 28A.310.180(4) and receiving moneys generated pursuant to this section shall establish and maintain a separate transportation vehicle account in the educational service district's general expense fund for the purposes and subject to the conditions under RCW 28A.160.130 and 28A.320.300.

(2) To the extent possible, districts shall operate vehicles acquired under this section not less than the number of years or useful lifetime now, or hereafter, assigned to the category of vehicles by the superintendent. School districts shall properly maintain the transportation equipment acquired under the provisions of this section, in accordance with rules established by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. If a district fails to follow generally accepted standards of maintenance and operation, the superintendent of public instruction shall penalize the district by deducting from future reimbursements under this section an amount equal to the original cost of the vehicle multiplied by the fraction of the useful lifetime or miles the vehicle failed to operate.

(3) The superintendent shall annually develop a depreciation schedule to recognize the cost of depreciation to districts contracting with private carriers for student transportation. Payments on this schedule shall be a straight line depreciation based on the original cost of the appropriate category of vehicle.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.300.072 and 2025 c 342 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The intent of the legislature is to continue and rename transitional kindergarten as the transition to kindergarten program and that the program be established in statute with the goal of assisting eligible children in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year. The transition to kindergarten program is not part of the state's statutory program of basic education under RCW 28A.150.200.

(2)(a)(i) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall administer the transition to kindergarten program and shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW for the administration of, the allocation of state funding for, and minimum standards and requirements for the transition to kindergarten program in accordance with this section.

(b) School districts, charter schools ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), and state-tribal education compact schools operating a transition to kindergarten program shall adopt policies regarding eligibility, recruitment, and enrollment for this program that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The rules adopted under subsection (2) of this section must include, at a minimum, the following requirements for school districts, charter schools ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), and state-tribal education compact schools operating a transition to kindergarten program:

(a)(i) A limitation on program enrollment to eligible children. Eligible children include only those who:

(A) Have been determined to benefit from additional preparation for kindergarten; and

(B) Are at least four years old by August 31st of the school year they enroll in the transition to kindergarten program;

(ii) A requirement, as practicable, for school districts, charter schools ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), and state-tribal education compact schools to prioritize families with the lowest incomes and children most in need for additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten when enrolling eligible children in a transition to kindergarten program;

(iii) Access to the transition to kindergarten program does not constitute an individual entitlement for any particular child.

(b) Except for children who have been excused from participation by their parents or legal guardians, a requirement that the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills as established by RCW 28A.655.080 be administered to all eligible children enrolled in a transition to kindergarten program at the beginning of the child's enrollment in the program and at least one more time during the school year((.));

(c) A requirement that all eligible children enrolled in a transition to kindergarten program be assigned a statewide student identifier and that the transition to kindergarten program be considered a separate class or course for the purposes of data reporting requirements in RCW 28A.320.175((.));

(d) A requirement that a local child care and early learning needs assessment is conducted before beginning or expanding a transition to kindergarten program that considers the existing availability and affordability of early learning providers, such as the early childhood education and assistance programs, head start programs, and licensed child care centers and family home providers in the region. Data available through the regionalized data dashboard maintained by the department of children, youth, and families or any other appropriate sources may be used to inform the needs assessment required by this subsection((.));

(e)(i) A requirement that school districts, charter schools ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), and state-tribal education compact schools adhere to guidelines, as developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, related to:

(A) Best practices for site readiness of facilities that are used for the program;

(B) Developmentally appropriate curricula designed to assist in maintaining high quality programs; and

(C) Professional development opportunities((.));

(ii) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must develop a process for conducting site visits of any school district, charter school ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), or state-tribal education compact school operating a transition to kindergarten program and provide feedback on elements listed in this subsection (3)(e)((.));

(f) ((A prohibition on charging tuition or other fees to state-funded eligible children for enrollment in a transition to kindergarten program.))Authorization to charge sliding scale fees for enrollment in a transition to kindergarten program, except for students who are eligible for but not yet placed in the early childhood education and assistance program or the head start program, or for children with disabilities entitled to a free appropriate public education in accordance with the federal individuals with disabilities education act and chapter 28A.155 RCW; and

(g) A prohibition on establishing a policy of excluding an eligible child due only to the presence of a disability.

(4)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in collaboration with the department of children, youth, and families, shall develop statewide coordinated eligibility, recruitment, enrollment, and selection best practices and provide technical assistance to those implementing a transition to kindergarten program to support connections with local early learning providers.

(b) School districts, charter schools ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), and state-tribal education compact schools must consider the best practices developed under this subsection (4) when adopting the policies required under subsection (2)(b) of this section.

(5) Nothing in this section prohibits school districts, charter schools ((as allowed by subsection (7) of this section)), and state-tribal education compact schools from blending or colocating a transition to kindergarten program with other early learning programs.

(6)(a) Funding for the transition to kindergarten program ((must be))is limited to the amounts provided in the omnibus appropriations act and must be allocated to school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools based on the prioritized criteria developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under subsection (2)(a)(ii) of this section.

(b) Allocations for the transition to kindergarten program are based on the following formulas:

(i) The distribution formula established under RCW 28A.150.260 (4)(a), (5), (6), (8), and (10)(a) and (b), calculated using the actual number of annual average full-time equivalent eligible children enrolled in the program((. A transition to kindergarten child must be counted as a kindergarten student for purposes of the funding calculations referenced in this subsection, but must be reported separately.)); and

(ii) The distribution formula developed in RCW 28A.160.150 through 28A.160.192, calculated using reported ridership for eligible children enrolled in the program.

(b) ((Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the annual average full-time equivalent eligible children enrolled in the program funded in (a) of this subsection may not exceed the state-funded annual average full-time equivalent specified in the omnibus appropriations act. During the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must prioritize funding for programs funded under (a) of this subsection that operated during the 2024-25 school year))A transition to kindergarten child must be counted as a kindergarten student for purposes of the funding calculations referenced in this subsection and for purposes of calculating special education funding under RCW 28A.150.390(2)(b), but children enrolled in this program must be reported separately.

(c) Funding provided for the transition to kindergarten program is not part of the state's statutory program of basic education under RCW 28A.150.200 and must be expended only for the support of operating a transition to kindergarten program.

(7) ((Charter schools authorized under RCW 28A.710.080(2) are immediately permitted to operate a transition to kindergarten program under this section. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, any charter school authorized under RCW 28A.710.080 (1) or (2) is permitted to operate a transition to kindergarten program under this section))Beginning June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must report to the office of the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature on the planned transition to kindergarten program slot allotment for the upcoming school year. The report must include the following information for each school district, charter school, and state-tribal education compact school that will receive funding for the program during the upcoming school year:

(c) Whether the school district, charter school, or state-tribal education compact school is located within, or includes a zip code defined as, an extreme child care access desert as determined by the department of children, youth, and families.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.500.015 and 2025 c 405 s 1 and 2025 c 404 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Beginning in calendar year 2020 and each calendar year thereafter, the state must provide state local effort assistance funding to supplement school district enrichment levies as provided in this section.

(2)(a) For an eligible school district with an actual enrichment levy rate that is less than $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the school district, the annual local effort assistance funding is equal to the school district's maximum local effort assistance multiplied by a fraction equal to the school district's actual enrichment levy rate divided by $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the school district.

(b) For an eligible school district with an actual enrichment levy rate that is equal to or greater than $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the school district, the annual local effort assistance funding is equal to the school district's maximum local effort assistance.

(c) Beginning in calendar year 2022, for state-tribal education compact schools established under chapter 28A.715 RCW, the annual local effort assistance funding is equal to the actual enrichment levy per student as calculated by the superintendent of public instruction for the previous year for the school district in which the state-tribal education compact school is located, up to a maximum per-student amount of $1,550 as increased by inflation from the 2019 calendar year, multiplied by the student enrollment of the state-tribal education compact school in the prior school year.

(3) The state local effort assistance funding provided under this section is not part of the state's program of basic education deemed by the legislature to comply with the requirements of Article IX, section 1 of the state Constitution.

(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Eligible school district" means a school district where the amount generated by a levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the school district, divided by the school district's total student enrollment in the prior school year, is less than the state local effort assistance threshold.

(b) "Inflation" means the implicit price deflator for the previous calendar year using the official current base, compiled by the bureau of economic analysis, United States department of commerce.

(c) "Maximum local effort assistance" means the difference between the following:

(i) The school district's actual prior school year enrollment multiplied by the state local effort assistance threshold; and

(ii) The amount generated by a levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the school district.

(d) "Prior school year" means the most recent school year completed prior to the year in which the state local effort assistance funding is to be distributed.

(e) "State local effort assistance threshold" means $1,550 per student, increased for inflation beginning in calendar year 2020.

(f) "Student enrollment" means the average annual full-time equivalent student enrollment, reduced by the alternative learning experience adjustment. Alternative learning experience adjustment equals (f)(i) of this subsection minus (f)(ii) of this subsection if a school district's full-time equivalent student enrollment in alternative learning experience courses exceeds ((33))25 percent of average annual full-time equivalent student enrollment.

(i) The full-time equivalent students enrolled in an alternative learning experience course.

(ii) Average annual full-time equivalent student enrollment multiplied by ((33))25 percent.

(5) For districts in a high/nonhigh relationship, the enrollments of the nonhigh students attending the high school shall only be counted by the nonhigh school districts for purposes of funding under this section.

(6) For school districts participating in an innovation academy cooperative established under RCW 28A.340.080, enrollments of students attending the academy shall be adjusted so that each participant district receives its proportional share of student enrollments for purposes of funding under this section.

Sec. 4. RCW 28A.405.415 and 2023 c 379 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Certificated instructional staff who have attained certification from the national board for professional teaching standards shall receive a bonus each year in which they maintain the certification. The bonus shall be calculated as follows: The annual bonus shall be $5,000 in the 2007-08 school year. Thereafter, the annual bonus shall increase by inflation((, except that the bonus shall not be increased during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years))through the 2025-26 school year.

(2)(a) Certificated instructional staff who have attained certification from the national board for professional teaching standards shall be eligible for bonuses in addition to that provided by subsection (1) of this section if the individual is in an instructional assignment in a school in which at least 70 percent of the students qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program.

(b) An individual is eligible for bonuses authorized under this subsection (2) if he or she is in an instructional assignment in a school that meets the definition of high poverty school as defined in rule by the office of the superintendent of public instruction in the school year immediately preceding the school's participation in the United States department of agriculture's community eligibility provision.

(c) For the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, individuals are eligible for bonuses under this subsection if they are in an instructional assignment in a school providing meals at no charge to students under RCW 28A.235.135 that met the definition of high poverty school as defined in rule by the office of the superintendent of public instruction during the 2022-23 school year.

(3) The amount of the additional bonus under subsection (2) of this section for those meeting the qualifications of subsection (2) of this section is $5,000.

(4) The bonuses provided under this section are in addition to compensation received under a district's salary schedule adopted in accordance with RCW 28A.405.200 and shall not be included in calculations of a district's average salary and associated salary limitations under RCW 28A.400.200.

(5) The bonuses provided under this section shall be paid in a lump sum amount.

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.600.402 and 2023 c 350 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Students participating in running start programs may be funded up to a combined maximum enrollment of ((1.4))1.2 full-time equivalents, including school district and institution of higher education enrollment.

(2) In calculating the combined full-time equivalents, the office of the superintendent of public instruction:

(a) Must adopt rules to fund the participating student's enrollment in running start courses provided by the institution of higher education during the summer academic term, up to a maximum of 10 college credits per student per summer academic term; and

(b) May average the participating student's September through June enrollment to account for differences in the start and end dates for courses provided by the high school and the institution of higher education.

(3) Running start programs as a service delivery model and associated funding levels beyond 1.0 full-time equivalent per student are not part of the state's statutory program of basic education under chapter 28A.150 RCW.

(4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges, the participating institutions of higher education, the student achievement council, and the education data center, must annually track, and report to the fiscal committees of the legislature, the combined full-time equivalent experience of students participating in running start programs, including course load analyses and enrollments by high school and participating institutions of higher education.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.600.402 and 2023 c 350 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Students participating in running start programs may be funded up to a combined maximum enrollment of 1.4 full-time equivalents, including school district and institution of higher education enrollment, except in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, in which the combined maximum enrollment is 1.3 full-time equivalents.

(2) In calculating the combined full-time equivalents, the office of the superintendent of public instruction:

(a) Must adopt rules to fund the participating student's enrollment in running start courses provided by the institution of higher education during the summer academic term, up to a maximum of 10 college credits per student per summer academic term; and

(b) May average the participating student's September through June enrollment to account for differences in the start and end dates for courses provided by the high school and the institution of higher education.

(3) Running start programs as a service delivery model and associated funding levels beyond 1.0 full-time equivalent per student are not part of the state's statutory program of basic education under chapter 28A.150 RCW.

(4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges, the participating institutions of higher education, the student achievement council, and the education data center, must annually track, and report to the fiscal committees of the legislature, the combined full-time equivalent experience of students participating in running start programs, including course load analyses and enrollments by high school and participating institutions of higher education.

Correct the title.