 |
The State Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the Tukwila School District Administrative Building, in Tukwila, WA, on October 15-16.
Wednesday, October 15
On Wednesday, the Board will begin with a Government-to-Government training focused on best practices for building and maintaining consultation between Tribes and the State Board of Education. Following the training, the Board will review and provide feedback on a draft of its Centennial Accord Plan for Tribal Consultation.
After a short working lunch, SBE staff will present updates and recommendations made in the Board’s 2025 Annual Legislative Charter School Report. Next, the Board will receive a presentation on draft findings and recommendations from the Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative (MBLC) demonstration project. Members will have an opportunity to provide feedback for inclusion in the final report, which will be considered for approval at the Board’s December meeting.
To close the day, the Board will hold a work session on the FutureReady initiative. Staff will begin by providing an update on the initiative before members review and discuss “straw man” proposals developed by staff based on themes from previous Board and Task Force discussions and survey responses. These conceptual, preliminary proposals focus on specific components of the diploma framework and are intended to serve as a starting point for critique, discussion, and further refinement.
Thursday, October 16
On Thursday, Superintendent Chris Reykdal will lead a discussion on federal and state policy issues that may impact the work of the Board. Afterward, the Board will take a short break to tour Tukwila School District’s Foster High School. Upon returning, the Board will receive an update on the development of its 2026 Legislative Platform. Following discussion and a working lunch, the Board is expected to vote on three items: adoption of its 2026 platform, approval of the 2025 Public Charter Schools Report, and conditionally certify three school districts for 2025-26 basic education compliance.
Join us on Zoom or tune-in on TVW:
The Board will review a draft of its Centennial Accord Plan for Tribal Consultation. This consultation plan outlines how the Board will engage in both formal and informal consultation with Washington’s federally recognized Tribes when developing policies, agreements, and programs that directly affect their communities. This plan is required by RCW 43.376.020. This plan will help ensure that our work is aligned with the needs, priorities, and strengths of Native students and communities.
A working draft of the plan is due to the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs (GOIA) in mid-October. A final draft of the report is expected to be completed in early 2026 after the Board receives input from Tribes.
The Mastery-based Learning Collaborative (MBLC) was launched by the Board in 2021 as a multi-year demonstration project to pilot culturally responsive mastery-based learning (synonymous with competency-based education) in schools across Washington.
This report, required by the Legislature in ESSB 5187 (2023), will include findings on the MBLC demonstration project along with recommendations for implementing culturally responsive mastery-based learning in Washington going forward. The report will also include information on certain elements tasked to the Board by the Legislature after the passage of SB 5189 (2025). The final report is due to the Legislature in December 2025.
|
FutureReady Work Session
FutureReady is the Board's initiative to update Washington high school graduation requirements so that students are better prepared for the future. Since early 2025, the Board, in partnership with a cross-sector task force of stakeholders from across the state, have worked to build a shared vision of what it means to be "ready for success" after high school. They also identified gaps between that vision and current graduation requirements. During the Task Force’s September meeting, members reviewed and critiqued the current components of the diploma — credit requirements, graduation pathways, and the High School & Beyond Plan. They also completed a survey on the relevance, reliability, and purpose of each requirement.
During this meeting, the Board will review and discuss “straw man” proposals created by Board staff based on themes from previous Board and Task Force conversations and survey responses. These conceptual proposals will focus on specific aspects of the diploma framework. They are not intended as final solutions, but rather as structured starting points for critique, conversation, and refinement. Members will be able to rework, adjust, and expand on these ideas as the policy development process unfolds. Feedback on these proposals will inform future drafts and help shape ongoing discussions between the Board and Task Force.
|
2026 Legislative Platform
Every year, the Board adopts an annual legislative platform that elevates key priorities for legislative consideration and guides the Board's advocacy work for the year. During the October meeting, the Board will review a draft of the Board’s 2026 Legislative Platform and is expected to hold a vote to adopt the platform.
For the 2026 session, the Board’s legislative platform recognizes the significant fiscal challenges facing the Legislature. While acknowledging these pressures, the platform also reaffirms the state’s constitutional duty to amply fund public education and ensure that every child has access to a high-quality, equitable education. The platform reflects a focus on safeguarding recent progress while identifying opportunities to restore or strengthen critical investments, aligning with the Board’s mission to advance an equitable and inclusive education system that prepares every student to thrive in a changing world.
The public comment period is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15 and 8:40 a.m. on Thursday, October 16.
Board meetings are a limited public forum and comments are accepted on current agenda items or matters under the Board's authority. Comments are subject to time limits (typically 2-3 minutes) and other restrictions at the Chair's discretion.
To participate in public comment:
- Sign up in advance of the comment period by using the Zoom chat feature during the meeting. If you are attending in person, please let a staff member know that you'd like to speak. You must sign up prior to the time noted on the agenda (and above).
- If you're providing comment over Zoom, please ensure you have a reliable audio connection so members can clearly hear and understand your comments. If members are unable to hear your comments, you will be asked to submit your comments in writing to sbe@k12.wa.us.
|
We are committed to hosting inclusive, accessible events that enable full participation for all individuals. If you require accommodations or assistance, please contact us at sbe@k12.wa.us. A staff member will follow up with you directly.
To help us best meet your needs, please submit your request as early as possible—ideally at least five business days before the scheduled event, meeting, or webinar.
|
