HB1357 • 2026

Special education funding

Providing special education funding and support for inclusionary practices.

Children Education Healthcare Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Stonier, Representative Santos, Representative Obras, Representative Timmons, Representative Scott, Representative Ortiz-Self, Representative Nance, Representative Fosse, Representative Salahuddin, Representative Wylie, Representative Macri, Representative Hill
Last action: 2026-01-12
Official status: H Rules X
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Special education funding

What This Bill Does

Special education funding

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

1357-S AMH POLL MACK 375

815 • Pollet

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH POLL MACK 375 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Increases the enrollment limit on special education excess cost funding from 16 to 16.15 percent.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH POLL MACK 375 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Increases the enrollment limit on special education excess cost funding from 16 to 16.15 percent.
Specifies that the Legislature intends review a forthcoming State Auditor report on the prevalence of disabilities in consideration of further increases or elimination of the enrollment limit on special education funding.
1357-S AMH POLL MACK 375 SHB 1357 - H AMD 815 By Representative Pollet NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 2, line 25, after "exceeds" strike "16" and insert "((16)) 16.15" On page 2, line 27, after "allocation by" strike "16" and insert "((16)) 16.15" On page 2, line 28, after "percent." insert "The legislature intends to review the state auditor report on the prevalence of disabilities required under section 2, chapter 229, Laws of 2024, in consideration of further increases or elimination of the enrollment limit on special education funding." --- END

1357-S AMH RUDE CLAJ 296

817 • Rude

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 296 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to include in its November 15, 2026, report quantifying the impacts of the demonstration projects intended to prevent crisis escalation cycles that may result in student restraint or isolation, data on changes in the number of students who are placed in authorized entities, which are private entities (both in-state and out-of-state) approved by the OSPI to provide a program of special education for students with disabilities.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 296 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to include in its November 15, 2026, report quantifying the impacts of the demonstration projects intended to prevent crisis escalation cycles that may result in student restraint or isolation, data on changes in the number of students who are placed in authorized entities, which are private entities (both in-state and out-of-state) approved by the OSPI to provide a program of special education for students with disabilities.
1357-S AMH RUDE CLAJ 296 SHB 1357 - H AMD 817 By Representative Rude NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 11, line 17, after "education setting," insert "changes in the number of students who are placed in the authorized entities under RCW 28A.155.060," --- END

1357-S AMH RUDE CLAJ 292

818 • Rude

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 292 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes provisions requiring the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a strategy and timeline by December 1, 2027, to implement a prohibition on isolating students in prekindergarten through grade five by July 1, 2032.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 292 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes provisions requiring the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a strategy and timeline by December 1, 2027, to implement a prohibition on isolating students in prekindergarten through grade five by July 1, 2032.
1357-S AMH RUDE CLAJ 292 SHB 1357 - H AMD 818 By Representative Rude NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, beginning on line 4, strike all of section 8 Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.
END

1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370

819 • Couture

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370 SHB 1357 - H AMD 819 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 2, line 4, after "(b)" strike all material through "(2), a" on line 5 and insert "(((i) Subject to the limitation in (b)(ii) of this subsection (2), a)) A" On page 2, at the beginning of line 11, strike "(A) ((Beginning" and insert "(((A) Beginning" On page 2, line 19, after "1.12))" insert "(i)" On page 2, line 22, after "1.06))" strike "(B)" and insert "(ii)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 25, strike all material through "percent." on line 28 and insert the following: "(((ii) If the enrollment percent exceeds 16 percent, the excess cost allocation calculated under (b)(i) of this subsection must be adjusted by multiplying the allocation by 16 percent divided by the enrollment percent.))" On page 2, beginning on line 33, after "section" strike ": (a) Base" and insert "((: (a) "Base)), "base" Beginning on page 2, at the beginning of line 39, strike all material through "enrollment." on page 3, line 10 and insert the following: "(((b) "Basic education enrollment" means enrollment of resident students including nonresident students enrolled under RCW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370 2 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the 16 percent enrollment limit on special education excess cost funding.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370 SHB 1357 - H AMD 819 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 2, line 4, after "(b)" strike all material through "(2), a" on line 5 and insert "(((i) Subject to the limitation in (b)(ii) of this subsection (2), a)) A" On page 2, at the beginning of line 11, strike "(A) ((Beginning" and insert "(((A) Beginning" On page 2, line 19, after "1.12))" insert "(i)" On page 2, line 22, after "1.06))" strike "(B)" and insert "(ii)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 25, strike all material through "percent." on line 28 and insert the following: "(((ii) If the enrollment percent exceeds 16 percent, the excess cost allocation calculated under (b)(i) of this subsection must be adjusted by multiplying the allocation by 16 percent divided by the enrollment percent.))" On page 2, beginning on line 33, after "section" strike ": (a) Base" and insert "((: (a) "Base)), "base" Beginning on page 2, at the beginning of line 39, strike all material through "enrollment." on page 3, line 10 and insert the following: "(((b) "Basic education enrollment" means enrollment of resident students including nonresident students enrolled under RCW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 370 2 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the 16 percent enrollment limit on special education excess cost funding.
Removes awards for communities that draw a larger number of families with children in need of special education services from the special education safety net.
28A.225.225 and students from nonhigh districts enrolled under RCW 28A.225.210 and excluding students residing in another district enrolled as part of an interdistrict cooperative program under RCW 28A.225.250.
(c) "Enrollment percent" means the district's resident annual average enrollment of students who are eligible for and receiving special education, excluding students ages three and four and those five year olds not yet enrolled in kindergarten and students enrolled in institutional education programs, as a percent of the district's annual average full-time equivalent basic education enrollment.))" On page 7, beginning on line 8, after "(f)" strike all material through "(g)" on line 15 and insert the following: "((Using criteria developed by the committee, the committee shall then consider extraordinary costs associated with communities that draw a larger number of families with children in need of special education services, which may include consideration of proximity to group homes, military bases, and regional hospitals.

1357-S AMH COUT MACK 372

820 • Couture

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 372 1 - Official Print EFFECT:  Removes provision establishing grants for up to 20 pilot schools to establish school-wide centers of excellence for inclusionary practices.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 372 1 - Official Print EFFECT:  Removes provision establishing grants for up to 20 pilot schools to establish school-wide centers of excellence for inclusionary practices.
 Removes provision directing the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to engage in statewide activities to support special education students and reserve up to 0.5 percent of excess cost allocations to use for these activities.
 Removes provision requiring the OSPI to provide grants for demonstration projects to support inclusive teacher practices and student behavior management practices, and use information gathered from demonstration projects to develop a strategy and timeline for prohibiting isolation of students.
1357-S AMH COUT MACK 372 SHB 1357 - H AMD 820 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 2, beginning on line 29, after "(3)" strike all material through "(4)" on line 33 Beginning on page 3, line 11, strike all of sections 2 and 3 Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

1357-S AMH COUT MACK 374

821 • Couture

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 374 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 374 SHB 1357 - H AMD 821 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, after line 13, insert the following: "NEW SECTION.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 374 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT MACK 374 SHB 1357 - H AMD 821 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, after line 13, insert the following: "NEW SECTION.
Sec.
9.
With all correspondence and materials related to evaluation for and provision of special education services, a school district shall provide the parent of a student who is or may be eligible for special education services with the following: (1) A description of the services available through the office of the education ombuds and the contact information for the office of the education ombuds; (2) Information about accessing special education guidance and other resources for parents available through the office of the superintendent of public instruction; and (3) A notification that parents have a right to information about their child's education in a language they understand, including the right to translated documents under section 15 of this act.

1357-S AMH WALJ CLAJ 291

822 • Walsh

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 291 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH WALJ CLAJ 291 SHB 1357 - H AMD 822 By Representative Walsh NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, after line 3, insert the following: "NEW SECTION.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 291 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH WALJ CLAJ 291 SHB 1357 - H AMD 822 By Representative Walsh NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, after line 3, insert the following: "NEW SECTION.
Sec.
8.
A new section is added to chapter 28A.155 RCW to read as follows: (1) Notwithstanding RCW 9.73.030, parents or guardians of a student have the right to audio record their student's individualized education program team meetings.

1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 294

823 • Couture

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 294 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 294 SHB 1357 - H AMD 823 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 6, after line 5, insert the following: "Sec.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 294 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 294 SHB 1357 - H AMD 823 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 6, after line 5, insert the following: "Sec.
5.
RCW 28A.150.240 and 1979 ex.s.
c 250 s 5 are each amended to read as follows: (1) It is the intended purpose of this section to guarantee that the certificated teaching and administrative staff in each common school district be held accountable for the proper and efficient conduct of classroom teaching in their school which will provide students with the opportunity to achieve those skills which are generally recognized as requisite to learning.

1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 295

824 • Couture

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 295 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 295 SHB 1357 - H AMD 824 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, after line 3, insert the following: "Sec.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 295 1 - Official Print 1357-S AMH COUT CLAJ 295 SHB 1357 - H AMD 824 By Representative Couture NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 13, after line 3, insert the following: "Sec.
8.
RCW 28A.600.015 and 2023 c 242 s 9 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt and distribute to all school districts lawful and reasonable rules prescribing the substantive and procedural due process guarantees of pupils in the common schools.
Such rules shall authorize a school district to use informal due process procedures in connection with the short-term suspension of students to the extent constitutionally permissible: PROVIDED, That the superintendent of public instruction deems the interest of students to be adequately protected.

Bill History

2026-01-12 House
House Rules "X" file.

Official Summary Text

Special education funding

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

AN ACT Relating to special education funding and support for 1
inclusionary practices; amending RCW 28A.150.390 and 43.216.580; and 2
adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 28A.150.390 and 2024 c 229 s 1 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall submit to each 7
regular session of the legislature during an odd-numbered year a 8
programmed budget request for special education programs for students 9
with disabilities. Funding for programs operated by local school 10
districts shall be on an excess cost basis from appropriations 11
provided by the legislature for special education programs for 12
students with disabilities and shall take account of state funds 13
accruing through RCW 28A.150.260 (4)(a), (5), (6), and (8) and 14
28A.150.415. 15
(2) The excess cost allocation to school districts shall be based 16
on the following: 17
(a) A district's annual average head count enrollment of students 18
ages three and four and those five year olds not yet enrolled in 19
kindergarten who are eligible for and receiving special education, 20
H-0559.1
HOUSE BILL 1357
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Stonier, Santos, Obras, Timmons, Scott, Ortiz-
Self, Nance, Fosse, Salahuddin, Wylie, Macri, and Hill
Read first time 01/17/25. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
p. 1 HB 1357
multiplied by the district's base allocation per full-time equivalent 1
student, multiplied by 1.2; 2
(b)(i) Subject to the limitation in (b)(ii) of this subsection 3
(2), a district's annual average enrollment of resident students who 4
are eligible for and receiving special education, excluding students 5
ages three and four and those five year olds not yet enrolled in 6
kindergarten, multiplied by the district's base allocation per full-7
time equivalent student, multiplied by the special education cost 8
multiplier rate of: 9
(A) ((Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, either:10
(I) 1.0075 for students eligible for and receiving special 11
education and reported to be in the general education setting for 80 12
percent or more of the school day; or13
(II) 0.995 for students eligible for and receiving special 14
education and reported to be in the general education setting for 15
less than 80 percent of the school day;16
(B) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, either:17
(I) 1.12)) 1.18 for students eligible for and receiving special 18
education and reported to be in the general education setting for 80 19
percent or more of the school day; or 20
(((II) 1.06)) (B) 1.09 for students eligible for and receiving 21
special education and reported to be in the general education setting 22
for less than 80 percent of the school day. 23
(ii) If the enrollment percent exceeds 16 percent, the excess 24
cost allocation calculated under (b)(i) of this subsection must be 25
adjusted by multiplying the allocation by 16 percent divided by the 26
enrollment percent. 27
(3) As used in this section: 28
(a) "Base allocation" means the total state allocation to all 29
schools in the district generated by the distribution formula under 30
RCW 28A.150.260 (4)(a), (5), (6), and (8) and the allocation under 31
RCW 28A.150.415, to be divided by the district's full-time equivalent 32
enrollment. 33
(b) "Basic education enrollment" means enrollment of resident 34
students including nonresident students enrolled under RCW 35
28A.225.225 and students from nonhigh districts enrolled under RCW 36
28A.225.210 and excluding students residing in another district 37
enrolled as part of an interdistrict cooperative program under RCW 38
28A.225.250. 39
p. 2 HB 1357
(c) "Enrollment percent" means the district's resident annual 1
average enrollment of students who are eligible for and receiving 2
special education, excluding students ages three and four and those 3
five year olds not yet enrolled in kindergarten and students enrolled 4
in institutional education programs, as a percent of the district's 5
annual average full-time equivalent basic education enrollment.6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 7
RCW to read as follows: 8
(1) Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this 9
specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public 10
instruction must award grants to up to 25 pilot schools to support 11
school-wide centers of excellence for inclusionary practices. School 12
districts may apply for grant funding on behalf of a school within 13
their district. The selected schools will generate a grant equivalent 14
to the amount needed to bring the school to a multiplier of 1.5 for 15
all students eligible for, and receiving special education in, the 16
school in each school year over a four-year period. Grant amounts 17
provided in this section must be spent on qualifying expenses for 18
special education programs for students with disabilities.19
(2) The superintendent of public instruction must select grant 20
recipients based on the criteria in this subsection (2). Selected 21
pilot schools must be diverse geographically and in size of 22
enrollment. Successful school applicants must: 23
(a) Demonstrate engaged and committed school leadership and 24
faculty in support of inclusionary practices, which may include, but 25
are not limited to, the following practices: 26
(i) A willingness to make master schedule changes to allow for 27
common collaboration time; 28
(ii) A plan for transformational change in building practices in 29
support of inclusion; 30
(iii) Broadly communicating a commitment to the shift in 31
practices; and 32
(iv) A commitment to, and understanding of, universal design for 33
learning; 34
(b) Demonstrate that all school staff, including classified 35
staff, are appropriately trained in inclusionary practices or submit 36
a plan for all staff to obtain the appropriate training by the end of 37
the following school year; 38
p. 3 HB 1357
(c) Provide data demonstrating the school's existing success in 1
inclusionary practices or recent improvements in inclusionary 2
practices; and 3
(d) Describe how staff training and support in inclusionary 4
practices will be sustained after initial training is provided.5
(3) Beginning December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 6
office of the superintendent of public instruction shall submit a 7
report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on the grant 8
program. The report must include, at a minimum: 9
(a) A list of the grant recipients from the previous school year;10
(b) The additional funding provided to each grant recipient as 11
required in subsection (1) of this section; and 12
(c) The effectiveness of the grant funds in increasing staff 13
training in inclusionary practices and improving student outcomes.14
(4) The funding provided under this section is not part of the 15
state's statutory program of basic education. 16
Sec. 3. RCW 43.216.580 and 2024 c 284 s 1 are each amended to 17
read as follows: 18
(1) The department is the state lead agency for Part C of the 19
federal individuals with disabilities education act. The department 20
shall administer the early support for infants and toddlers program, 21
to provide early intervention services to all eligible children with 22
disabilities from birth to three years of age. Eligibility shall be 23
determined according to Part C of the federal individuals with 24
disabilities education act or other applicable federal and state 25
laws, and as specified in the Washington Administrative Code adopted 26
by the department. Services provided under this section shall not 27
supplant services or funding currently provided in the state for 28
early intervention services to eligible children with disabilities 29
from birth to three years of age. 30
(2)(a) Funding for the early support for infants and toddlers 31
program shall be appropriated to the department based on the annual 32
average head count of children ages birth to three who are eligible 33
for and receiving early intervention services, multiplied by the 34
total statewide allocation generated by the distribution formula 35
under RCW 28A.150.260 (4)(a), (5), (6), and (8) and the allocation 36
under RCW 28A.150.415, per the statewide full-time equivalent 37
enrollment in common schools, multiplied by ((1.15)) the multiplier 38
used in RCW 28A.150.390(2)(a). 39
p. 4 HB 1357
(b) The department shall distribute funds to early intervention 1
services providers, and, when appropriate, to county lead agencies.2
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (2), a child is receiving 3
early intervention services if the child has received services within 4
the same month as the monthly count day, which is the last business 5
day of the month. 6
(3) Federal funds associated with Part C of the federal 7
individuals with disabilities education act shall be subject to payor 8
of last resort requirements pursuant to 34 C.F.R. Sec. 303.510 (2020) 9
for birth-to-three early intervention services provided under this 10
section. 11
(4) The services in this section are not part of the state's 12
program of basic education pursuant to Article IX of the state 13
Constitution. 14
--- END ---
p. 5 HB 1357