Superintendent Reykdal’s Response to Federal DEI Guidance

On February 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague Letter questioning the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in educational institutions and suggesting potential federal funding consequences for noncompliance.

In response, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal released a statement reaffirming Washington’s commitment to equity and inclusion in public education. Superintendent Reykdal emphasized that this guidance does not carry the force of law and does not require school districts to change their policies, practices, or programming. He also noted that Washington state law has long prohibited discrimination in public education.

OSPI is actively monitoring this issue in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office and will take necessary steps if any federal funding is impacted. Superintendent Reykdal reiterated that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to ensuring a high-quality education for all students and that Washington state will not be reversing course on its commitment to educational equity.

For more details, see the full statement and related resources:

Superintendent Reykdal’s Video Remarks (February 20, 2025)

U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter (February 14, 2025)

Legislative Update

February 21st marked the cutoff for all policy-related bills to be passed out of committee and read into the floor record in their house of origin. February 28th marked the same for bills with a fiscal impact. March 12th is the House of Origin Cutoff date, which is the last day to consider bills in the house of origin. Stay tuned to the OSPI Special Education Bill Tracker for regular updates on the status of bills impacting special education. Bills with a grey background are not moving forward this session.

If you have questions about anything legislature-related, please contact OSPI Special Education with the subject line "Legislative Session".

N.D v. Reykdal Settlement

On November 22, 2024, the Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington approved the settlement agreement in N.D. v. Reykdal. For more details about this case, see the 9th Circuit Order and OSPI Q&A. On February 21, 2025, the Court issued an order continuing the Final Fairness Hearing, which is now scheduled for June 17, 2025, at 10 am. The Court also ordered districts to send out an updated individualized settlement notice to adult students identified as potential members of the settlement class. OSPI is in the process of translating the notice and districts will need to send out the updated notice by March 24, 2025.

Districts that need to send the settlement notice and consider whether compensatory education is needed will be emailed directly and provided with additional instructions.  

You can find more information about the Court Order, Settlement, and Settlement Notice on OSPI’s Special Education webpage.

Special Education Division Team Member Spotlight: Meet Our Institutional Education Program Supervisor, Dr. Sara Paul

What do you like most about your role at OSPI serving students in nontraditional settings?  

I love learning and teaming with those within OSPI and others across the state. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and expertise I am exposed to daily. I value the shared commitment to youth and families practiced daily.  

What have you learned from your work with external partners?

I have learned public education stretches far from comprehensive classrooms. It has been rewarding experiencing the passion and commitment of the adults who are working to bring equitable services to the most vulnerable populations in our state.

The very best part of this work is being onsite in non-traditional education settings such as juvenile justice sites and visiting with the youth. It is an honor to learn their stories and witness their determination.  

What were you doing prior to joining OSPI?

I have spent the last 30 years building non-traditional classrooms, programs, and systems that honor the child. Advocating for those who are underserved across educational settings became my platform early in my career. From developing and implementing yearly training programs for support staff, to designing and opening specially designed classrooms and school buildings for students and families for whom public education had not been equitable, my career has always been centered on serving those who have been made to feel small.

How do you like to spend your time when you are not working?

My heart is its happiest when I am watching others accomplish a goal. To be on the sidelines coaching or in the audience cheering the loudest brings me great joy. It is even better when there are horses involved. My husband Jason and I both grew up with horses, so it was not surprising when both our girls stepped into the show arena in their youth. Today, they both work in education advocating for those whose voices are small. I love our “girl trips” and listening to their classroom adventures. Most of all, I love being in the barn with my family and smelling like horses.

Where can I find the latest Specific Learning Disability Technical Assistance Paper (SLD TAP) drafts as well as other OSPI Technical Assistance Papers (TAPs), various policy papers, and previous OSPI monthly tips?

Tip of the Month!

This section includes hyperlinks to important information shared in previous monthly updates.

The Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN) has launched a new resource page where educators, families, and community members can find tools, data, and other resources that promote meaningful inclusion.

• Visit the IPTN Resource Page to:
  • Learn why inclusion matters and how it benefits all students
  • Access valuable materials and training opportunities
  • Explore state and district-level data to track progress
  • Stay up to date on inclusion initiatives across Washington
  • Engage with the IPTN strategic plan and share best practices

This resource hub is designed to foster collaboration among students, families, educators, and community partners as we work together to create inclusive learning environments statewide.

Special Education and Institutional Education Directory

The Special Education and Institutional Education Directory is posted on the OSPI website. The directory is updated monthly, on the first working day of every month. Submit changes to the Special Education email.

Please note, that districts must update their contact information with the Special Education office to receive emails sent out from the Special Education office. Updating your district’s contact information in the Special Education and Institutional Education Directory does not update your district’s information in EGMS or GovDelivery.

Got questions? Ask OSPI!

OSPI has launched a new publication that invites all Washington residents to ask OSPI questions directly and get answers publicly. Named, The Study Session, this publication is an opportunity for families and community members to engage with OSPI on all things public education. It is published once per month on the OSPI Blog. Click to learn more about The Study Session, including how to submit questions.