Public school starting times

AN ACT Relating to supporting the exploration and implementation 1
of later starting times for public schools; and adding new sections 2
to chapter 28A.150 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 7
specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public 8
instruction shall provide information and technical assistance to 9
school districts that are exploring or implementing school starting 10
times that, in comparison to schedules of the school district in 11
preceding years, begin later in the day. 12
(2) Examples of the information and technical assistance that may 13
be provided under this section include: 14
(a) Summaries of studies or other materials analyzing potential 15
student health benefits associated with later school starting times; 16
and 17
(b) Summaries of processes, practices, and considerations used by 18
school districts that have implemented later school starting times, 19
including strategies for addressing concerns related to parent and 20
H-0424.1
HOUSE BILL 1231
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives McEntire, Callan, Paul, Doglio, Simmons, Nance,
Ormsby, and Hill
Prefiled 01/09/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Education.
p. 1 HB 1231
guardian engagement, and potential impacts to transportation and 1
extracurricular activity schedules. 2
(3) For the purposes of this section, "school districts" include 3
charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-4
tribal education compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW.5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 8
specific purpose, the later school starting times grant program is 9
established. The office of the superintendent of public instruction 10
shall administer the grant program in accordance with this section.11
(2) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the office of the 12
superintendent of public instruction shall award grants to eligible 13
school districts for either the exploration or implementation of 14
later school starting times. School districts receiving grant funds 15
under this section for the exploration of later school starting times 16
are eligible to receive grant funds for implementing later school 17
starting times in subsequent award cycles. 18
(3) Beginning in 2028, the office of the superintendent of public 19
instruction, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036, shall submit an annual 20
report to the appropriate committees of the legislature with a 21
description and evaluation of the program actions required by this 22
section. The report may include other information deemed pertinent by 23
the office of the superintendent of public instruction, including a 24
summary of actions taken in other states related to later school 25
starting times and recommendations for statutory changes to support 26
school districts that are exploring or implementing later school 27
starting times. 28
(4) For the purposes of this section, "school districts" include 29
charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-30
tribal education compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW.31
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p. 2 HB 1231