School communications

AN ACT Relating to school district communications to the general 1
public; amending RCW 28A.320.090; and creating a new section.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the public has 4
a right to information about the instructional program, operation, 5
maintenance, and outcomes of their local schools. To promote 6
transparency in government, school districts must have the authority 7
to inform the general public regarding all aspects of schools 8
including, but not limited to, curriculum, student achievement, 9
school safety, school budgets, facility condition and needs, and 10
sources of funding, such as school district ballot propositions.11
This responsibility to inform the public is more acute now than 12
ever before given the loss of many local media outlets, the changes 13
in the modes in which the public seeks and consumes information, the 14
spread of misinformation, and the inability of many in our 15
communities, particularly those most vulnerable or otherwise 16
underserved, to access factual information about government.17
In order to fulfill this responsibility to communicate with their 18
communities and as part of their normal and regular conduct, school 19
districts need the authority to employ multiple media tools, 20
S-3629.2
SENATE BILL 5910
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Cortes, Frame, Pedersen, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 12/17/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
p. 1 SB 5910
channels, and methods, including social media, to capture the 1
public's attention. 2
This clarifying legislation reinforces the authority of school 3
districts to inform the public and strengthen the vital connection 4
between schools and the communities they serve. 5
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.320.090 and 1969 ex.s. c 283 s 11 are each 6
amended to read as follows: 7
((The)) (1) Notwithstanding any other law or administrative rule 8
to the contrary, the board of directors of any school district shall 9
have authority to authorize the expenditure of funds for the purpose 10
of preparing and distributing information to the general public ((to 11
explain)) without limitation as to content, tenor, format, frequency, 12
or medium of communication, to:13
(a) Explain the instructional program, operation , and maintenance 14
of the schools of the district ((: PROVIDED, That nothing contained 15
herein shall be construed to authorize));16
(b) Explain ballot propositions of the district; and17
(c) Inform the residents of the district about how to register to 18
vote and cast a ballot.19
(2) Nothing contained in this section authorizes the preparation 20
and distribution of information to the general public for the 21
((purpose of influencing the outcome of a )) promotion of or 22
opposition to any school district election. 23
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p. 2 SB 5910