Washington HB 1140: Concerning juvenile access to attorneys when contacted by law enforcement.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to creating school choice with empowerED 1
scholarships using educational savings accounts; amending RCW 2
28A.225.350; reenacting and amending RCW 43.79A.040 and 43.79A.040; 3
adding a new section to chapter 28B.77 RCW; adding a new chapter to 4
Title 28A RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 82 RCW; creating new 5
sections; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration 6
date.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The state Constitution makes clear 9
that it is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision 10
for the education of all children residing within its borders, 11
without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, 12
or sex. The legislature finds the state is failing to meet that 13
paramount duty by providing an education system that, as it exists in 14
statute, discriminates based on these protected classes by forcing 15
children into schools based on their zip code. This creates a system 16
where children and their families often have no other choice but a 17
failing local public school. The state does not provide for the 18
education of children outside of the public school system which means 19
the quality of their education is set by what neighborhood they live 20
H-0262.1
HOUSE BILL 1140
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Couture, Walsh, Corry, Ley, Jacobsen, and Barnard
Prefiled 12/30/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Education.
p. 1 HB 1140

in. This is a blatant injustice and a profound violation of civil 1
rights.2
(2) The legislature also recognizes the power entrusted to 3
parents to do what is best for their children. Parents can choose to 4
place their student in a common school, charter public school, 5
private school, micro school, or provide home-based instruction. 6
However, not all parents have access to every option. Public charter 7
schools are limited in number and space, while private school options 8
require an extra financial investment from families. Home school 9
requires both, extra financial and time investments, from parents. 10
The legislature knows that wealthy families can pay to send their 11
students to a private school but the families for many kids in rural 12
and poor communities often do not have this ability. The legislature 13
intends to allow all students regardless of protected or 14
socioeconomic status to have the same opportunity to succeed.15
(3) While the legislature has spent years increasing funding to 16
the public school system, the legislature acknowledges many students 17
have been left behind. National test scores for Washington students 18
have been falling over the last decade and, after extensive school 19
closures, state test scores are down to the lowest levels since 20
administration of the smarter balanced assessment began. For the 21
2023-24 school year, over 60 percent of Washington's students did not 22
meet grade level standards in math and half did not meet grade level 23
standards in English. School closures also disproportionately 24
impacted students with the most need, specifically those from 25
underrepresented communities. Students with disabilities who were 26
eligible for special education services were delayed in getting their 27
needed supports for too long. It is clear Washington state's public 28
school system is failing families by not preparing students for their 29
future.30
(4) Academic outcomes are not the only reason public schools in 31
Washington are failing students and families. Our schools are unsafe, 32
and it is unacceptable. With a shift in focus toward divisive 33
instruction, rising childhood mental and behavioral health problems, 34
ineffective discipline policies, rampant bullying, drug abuse, and 35
troubling allegations of sexual misconduct, parents, teachers, and 36
communities are abandoning the system. Recent data paints a 37
disturbing picture: 18 percent of students statewide report feeling 38
unsafe at school, and a staggering 70 percent of teachers feel afraid 39
to go to work. Even more alarming, 79 percent of teachers have been 40
p. 2 HB 1140

subjected to physical violence, and 67 percent say that violence has 1
driven them to consider leaving the profession. Yet, school districts 2
and the state continue failing to fix these issues, allowing this 3
crisis to fester. Since the 2018-19 school year, there has been a 10 4
percent increase in private school students and an over 32 percent 5
increase in students receiving home-based instruction. This means 6
less funding for public schools. Pair that with communities failing 7
to pass levies and bonds and you have an even tougher financial 8
dilemma for public schools. If Washington is serious about fixing its 9
schools, we must allow funding to follow students, shattering the 10
public school monopoly and forcing the system to address its deep-11
rooted problems. By introducing m