Public education reviews

AN ACT Relating to requiring independent, balanced, and objective 1
reviews of the performance, operations, and funding of the state's 2
public education system; adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW; 3
creating a new section; and providing an effective date.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that 6
Washington's system of public education is foundational to the 7
state's economic vitality, civic health, and long-term prosperity. 8
Over time, the legislature has enacted numerous policy requirements 9
affecting public schools and school districts, many of which have 10
imposed operational, administrative, and instructional obligations.11
(2) The legislature further finds that not all policy 12
requirements have been accompanied by sufficient or sustainable 13
funding, and that cumulative mandates, particularly those enacted 14
without full fiscal consideration, divert resources away from core 15
educational priorities and student learning. 16
(3) The legislature, therefore, intends to establish an 17
independent, balanced, and objective review of the performance, 18
operations, and funding of the state's K-12 public education system. 19
The purpose of the review is to evaluate whether existing statutory 20
H-3035.1
HOUSE BILL 2636
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Rude, Pollet, Marshall, and Santos
Read first time 01/22/26. Referred to Committee on Education.
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requirements are achieving their intended outcomes, remain relevant 1
and effective, and represent an efficient use of public resources.2
(4) The legislature also intends that the review required by this 3
act inform future legislative decision making by identifying 4
requirements that should be maintained, modified, consolidated, or 5
eliminated, and by highlighting instances where obligations imposed 6
on schools and school districts were enacted without appropriate or 7
sufficient funding. This ongoing review is intended to support 8
alignment between policy, performance, and funding in Washington's 9
public education system. 10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 11
RCW to read as follows: 12
(1) The public education performance, operations, and funding 13
review commission is established. 14
(2) The commission has 15 members as follows: 15
(a) The state auditor or the auditor's designee, who is a 16
nonvoting member; 17
(b) A chair of the joint legislative audit and review committee 18
or a chair's designee, who is a nonvoting member; 19
(c) The chairs of each of the two largest caucuses of the senate 20
and the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives shall 21
each appoint a member. None of these appointees may be members of the 22
legislature; 23
(d) The superintendent of public instruction or the 24
superintendent's designee; 25
(e) The chair of the state board of education or the chair's 26
designee; 27
(f) The executive director of the Washington state charter school 28
commission or the executive director's designee; 29
(g) One school principal, selected by an organization 30
representing public school principals; 31
(h) One school director, selected by an organization representing 32
public school directors; 33
(i) Two educators, one from a public primary school and one from 34
a public secondary school, both selected by an organization 35
representing educators; 36
(j) One representative selected by an organization representing 37
public school business professionals; and 38
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(k) One representative selected by an association representing 1
public school administrators. 2
(3) Persons appointed by the caucus chairs should be individuals 3
who represent a balance of perspectives and constituencies and have 4
an understanding of education policy, the funding of public schools, 5
and the delivery of elementary and secondary education to public 6
school students. These appointees should have knowledge and expertise 7
in pedagogical practices, performance management, fiscal analysis, 8
and other fields relevant to public education. 9
(4) The commission shall elect a chair from among its voting or 10
nonvoting members. 11
(5) Members serve for terms of four years, with the terms 12
expiring on June 30th on the fourth year of the term. However, in the 13
case of the initial terms, the members appointed by the chairs of 14
senate caucuses shall serve four-year terms, and the members 15
appointed by the chairs of house of representatives caucuses shall 16
serve three-year terms, with each of the terms expiring on June 30th 17
of the applicable year. Appointees may be reappointed to serve more 18
than one term. 19
(6) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall 20
provide staff support to the commission. The state board of education 21
and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 22
provide necessary support and information to the joint legislative 23
audit and review committee. 24
(7) The commission shall examine policy requirements and provided 25
funding for public schools enacted by the Washington state 26
legislature, prioritizing the review of requirements enacted and 27
funding allocated in the 10 years preceding the issuance of each 28
annual report required by subsection (9) of this section. The purpose 29
of the examination is to evaluate whether the policy requirement or 30
provided funding: 31
(a) Achieved the goal or outcome expressed or reasonably inferred 32
by the applicable legislation; 33
(b) Has a positive cost-benefit result; 34
(c) Has ongoing relevance and education value; and35
(d) Should be maintained, modified, or repealed.36
(8) The commission shall meet at least once a quarter and may 37
hold additional meetings at the call of the chair or by a majority 38
vote of the voting members of the commission. The members of the 39
commission shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.220 and 40
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reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 1
43.03.060. 2
(9) Beginning November 1, 2030, and annually thereafter, the 3
commission shall issue a report to the governor and the appropriate 4
fiscal and policy committees. The report must include findings and 5
recommendations for the requirements and funding examined by the 6
commission in the preceding year. 7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2029.8
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