Legislative Updates
The House and Senate released Operating Budget proposals (SHB 1198 and SSB 5167) on March 24th. The proposals included vastly different investments in Special Education, and legislators will negotiate between the two houses in the coming weeks. There are several remaining session cutoff dates in April, and the last day of the regular legislative session, Sine Die, is April 27th.
We continue to closely monitor SB 5263: Concerning special education funding, as well as SB 5253: Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. If SSB 5253 is enacted as session law, it would take effect 90 days after adjournment of the session. This means that services to the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 would apply for the 2025–26 school year.
Stay tuned to the OSPI Special Education Bill Tracker for regular updates on the status of these bills and others 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".
Lastly, we encourage you to watch the short video below for more insight into special education funding in Washington state and its impact on students and schools.
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Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate the experiences and identities of individuals on the autism spectrum while promoting greater understanding, inclusion, and meaningful support. This month serves as an opportunity and a reminder to move beyond awareness and take action to create truly inclusive communities where individuals on the spectrum have equitable access to education, employment, and resources that support their success. It is also a reminder that decisions affecting individuals with disabilities should include their voices and lived experiences, ensuring that policies, programs, and supports are shaped by those they impact most. For advocacy, support, and additional resources, visit Autism Speaks Resources.
Comprehensive Inclusive Education Webinar for Families
Family members are warmly invited to join the upcoming webinar, “Crafting and Implementing an Inclusive IEP,” to learn about OSPI’s new online resource, Comprehensive Inclusive Education in Washington. This resource supports school staff and families to work together in a four-step process to create and implement well-designed, ambitious, and inclusive IEPs. Throughout the webinar, this process will be illustrated with the story of a student with extensive support needs and his inclusive education experience. The webinar will be offered on April 22 from 4:00-5:30pm in partnership with Roots of Inclusion, the TIES Center at the University of Minnesota, and OSPI. District staff are encouraged to share this information with families.
Click here to register for this webinar. For more information, refer to the linked flyer.
Every Minute Counts – New Webinar Available
The Every Minute Counts project focuses on ensuring that students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) have equitable access to instructional time by addressing the impact of lost instructional minutes due to exclusionary practices, scheduling barriers, and service delivery models. This resource provides guidance on identifying and minimizing lost time, implementing effective scheduling strategies, and fostering inclusive learning environments that maximize student engagement and success.
A new webinar is now available, offering a walkthrough of the Every Minute Counts report and practical ways to apply its recommendations. The webinar provides insights on how educators, administrators, and school teams can use this resource to improve instructional access and outcomes for students with disabilities.
The webinar can be found here and time stamps are available below for easy navigation.
0:00 -- Welcome
2:09 -- Introduction to the Project
4:02 -- Findings From the Report
14:58 -- Overview of the Technical Assistance Guide
43:59 -- Overview of the Workbook
45:11 -- Additional Resources
52:02 -- Professional Learning Community and Training Module
Nonpublic Agency (NPA) Annual Renewal Application Form Due June 30th
The Nonpublic Agency (NPA) Annual Renewal Application for 2025 is now available on the OSPI website. All schools/facilities currently on the authorized NPA list should complete this annual renewal application form by June 30th. As a reminder, at least one public school district with a student placed at an authorized NPA will be expected to complete an annual onsite visit and submit a report of that visit to OSPI. An Annual NPA Onsite Visit Report form is also now available on the OSPI NPA website for use by school districts. Any school district with a current placement at an NPA can complete the annual onsite visit for 2025. Please contact Scott Raub at OSPI directly at npas@k12.wa.us with questions or for additional information.
Click here for this month’s Program Improvement updates on the following topics:
- Disproportionality Workbooks due May 1 from Identified LEAs
- OSPI Special Education Data, Fiscal, and Program Office Hours
- Upcoming Changes to the Annual IDEA Determinations and Correction of
- Non-Compliance (EGMS Form Package 442) – Repeat
Click here for this month’s Fiscal & Data updates on the following topics:
- Notice of Public Comment Period for Annual State Application of Fiscal Year 2025 of the IDEA Federal Grant
- OSPI Special Education Data and Program Office Hours
- Safety Net Updates
- Secondary IEP Transition Components (Indicator B-13) Data Application (NEW COMPLIANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENT– New Resource Added
Click here for this month’s ECSE updates on the following topics:
- April is the Month of the Military Child!
- Blending and Braiding Funds for District PK/TK Programs
- Conferences and Professional Development Opportunities
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