WSSDA has updated Model Policy and Procedure 3432/3432P – Emergencies to reflect HB 1941. This is an Essential Policy.

Based on House Bill 1630 – Possession of Weapons – Certain Locations, WSSDA has revised several model policies, including policy 4210 – Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises.

Based on House Bill 1153 – Public Schools – Language Access Provisions, WSSDA  has made substantive revisions to policy and procedure 4218/4218P – Language Access, which is now an Essential Policy. 

WSSDA revised this policy based on HB 1699–School district employees–Retired Individuals -Pension. This legislation permits school districts to hire retired school district employees for up to 1,040 hours per school year without disruption to the retired employee’s pension benefits through July 1, 2025. These provisions provide a way for school districts to hire experienced and highly qualified bus drivers, paraeducators, teachers, and other professionals to return to work after their jobs were eliminated by the school closures and canceled bus routes as necessitated in response to COVID-19.

WSSDA has revised this policy and procedure to reflect the provisions in HB 1878–School Meals. This legislation requires public school districts to group their schools (to the extent practicable) in a manner that maximizes the Community Eligibility Provision in the National School Lunch Program. The Community Eligibility Provision offers an alternative to the traditional method of individual families applying for free or reduced-price meals via the household application. Instead of household applications, a school, group of schools, or school district can use the Community Eligibility Provision to provide free meals to all students. To be eligible, at least 40 percent of students need to be identified as eligible for free meals through means other than the household application. Examples of alternatives for identifying eligibility include students directly certified through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and foster, homeless, and migrant students. Please note that this legislation expressly includes charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools.