Entering kindergarten is one form of accelerating one's path through schooling. The unique needs of young learners require policies for early entrance to kindergarten to be flexible, and options for parents to be accessible and equitable across school districts and communities. In this article, the author discusses state policies for early…

The 42 school districts participating in the state of Washington's Inclusionary Practices Project achieved a significant 12.8% increase in inclusion in the least restrictive environment (LRE 1, or in general education for 80-100% of the school day) over four years, surpassing the state average increase of 6.8%. Katie Novak and Helene Paroff…

This article examines how an affirmative consent model can be applied in social dance contexts and addresses how social dance teachers can foster a culture of consent in their classes and communities. This model is based on legal and cultural activists' efforts to reduce incidents of sexual assault by shifting rape culture to consent culture. The…

A 2001 legislative budget proviso originally established the Washington State School Safety Advisory Committee and School Safety Center to address the complexities of school safety. House Bill (HB) 1216 (2019) revised the School Safety Center and placed it in state law, transforming the School Safety Advisory Committee into the new School Safety…

The 2022 Legislature required OSPI to promote survivor-centered and trauma-informed responses to sexual assault and to support survivors of sexual assault in Washington's K-12 public schools. OSPI partnered with a contractor to research best practices, review mandatory reporting laws, conduct listening sessions, update model protocols, and develop…

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has prepared this analysis in collaboration with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board), and the Association of Washington Business, as part of a broad educational needs assessment outlined in RCW…

Each year, only 60% of high school graduates in Washington transition to postsecondary education within one year. Family engagement is a critical part of the college search and transition process. Families are often involved in campus visits, financial planning, and the shifting of norms and responsibilities when a student begins their higher…

This article describes the Student Perception Project, a two-year opportunity for educators in Washington state to explore student perception surveys and ways the data students provide can inform educator practice. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the…

Teacher morale declined during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and teachers reported worse wellbeing than other working adults. Interventions to restore teacher well-being could improve job performance, job satisfaction, engagement, and retention. Although it is known that working conditions are related to well-being among other teachers…

English 382 is a multimodal composition course that counts as a "C" credit, a composition course that fulfills one of the courses mandated as general education requirements. The writing program administration at the university created this course as one in a series of four new multimodal composition courses in response to increasing…

American public education policy and practice has long focused on what can be done to meet the academic needs of all students during the school day. Today, more families and students are facing challenges outside of school that affect student academic performance in classrooms. Challenges such as homelessness, food security, mental health and…

From February to April, New America conducted over 30 interviews with experts, care providers, and union representatives, focusing on three states. This report outlines key considerations for improving care worker job quality through organizing. We also include case studies on care worker organizing in California, Illinois, Washington, and the…

College students who reside in campus dormitories at public universities have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their dorm rooms that is protected by the fourth amendment; and officials cannot search these rooms for law enforcement purposes without a valid warrant. Non-students, however, have no such reasonable expectation of privacy in…

In early May 2020, The Aspen Institute published "Fostering Connectedness in the Pandemic Era: Policy Recommendations to Support Social, Emotional, and Academic Development." The recommendations were developed by a diverse group of education leaders convened to explore the importance of safe and nurturing relationships in school and the…

A state voter proposition concerning gun regulation motivated a local far-right political group to organize a pro-gun rally on campus. Overriding the safety and security concerns of faculty and students, freedom of speech rights required that the group be allowed to assemble on campus. The case explores interactions among administration, faculty,…