S-0250.1
SENATE BILL 5187
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Senators Wellman, Dhingra, Conway, Shewmake, Bateman, Salomon, Riccelli, Hasegawa, Saldaña, Cortes, Frame, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Valdez, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 01/08/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
AN ACT Relating to providing adequate and predictable student transportation; amending RCW 28A.160.170 ; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.160 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.160 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature recognizes that many school districts do not receive adequate funding for student transportation under the current student transportation allocation reporting system formula. The legislature further finds that the formula does not provide sufficient funding to address the needs of special student populations, including students receiving special education services, students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, and students attending skill centers. Furthermore, the formula does not address the unique transportation challenges faced by rural and high population density urban districts. Therefore, the legislature intends to direct the office of the superintendent of public instruction to gather and disaggregate student transportation data and develop a comprehensive funding model that is inclusive of the diverse needs of students and school districts.