2024-2025 School Rule Review Project

Summary

During the 2024 session, the Legislature included a new budget proviso. The new proviso directs the State Board of Health (Board) to propose a new school environmental health and safety rule. The Board initiated this process in May 2024 and will complete the drafting of the new proposed rule, an environmental justice assessment, a fiscal analysis, and implementation recommendations by June 30, 2025. The project will be completed in collaboration with other state agencies and interested parties. The goal is to create a proposed rule establishing minimum environmental health and safety standards for schools.

Additional Background

During the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature included in the 2024 supplemental operating budget a proviso (Section 222, subsection 159 (page 492) that directs the Board to review and develop a new propose rule to set minimum health and safety standards for K-12 schools. The Legislature also required the Board to:

Conduct the rule review in collaboration with the Department of Health and a multi-disciplinary technical advisory committee (TAC). At a minimum, the committee must consist of representatives from:

  • Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
  • Small and Large School Districts
  • Washington Association of School Administrators
  • Washington State School Directors Association
  • Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators
  • Washington Association of School Business Officials

In developing the draft rule, the Board must consider the size of school districts, regional cost differences, the age of schools, feasibility of implementing the proposed rule by section or subject area, and other variables that may affect rule implementation.

The Board must meet with the TAC to receive and discuss the committee’s comments on the proposed rule.

The proviso also directs the Board to collaborate with OSPI to develop a fiscal analysis regarding the implementation of the proposed rules. This analysis must consider school district size, regional cost differences, school age, and any other variables that may affect costs as identified by the advisory committee.

The Board must also work with the Department of Health to complete an environmental justice assessment on the proposed rule.

The Board must work collaboratively with OSPI, the Department of Health, the TAC, and local health jurisdictions to develop and provide a report to the office of the Governor and appropriate committees by June 30, 2025. The report will prioritize sections or subject areas of the proposed rule with the greatest health and safety benefits and the order in which they should be implemented. The report will also include any additional recommendations for implementation.

The Board received funding for this work on July 1, 2024.

TAC Meeting Schedule

August 1, 2024 Wenatchee Zoom recording available
August 22, 2024 Tumwater  Zoom recording available
September 17, 2024 Arlington Zoom recording available
October 4, 2024 Leavenworth Zoom recording available 
October 17, 2024 Olympia  
October 31, 2024 Olympia  
November 20, 2024 Spokane  
December 4, 2024 Olympia  
What has the Board done since receiving funding? 
  • Hired staff to carry out the work of the proviso.
  • Updated our website and reached out to interested parties and community partners.
  • Gathered information that may be helpful to the advisory committee’s work.
  • Convened the TAC on August 1, 2024.
What is the Board doing next?
  • Drafting new language for the proposed rule.
  • Reviewing the rule language with the TAC through December 2024.
  • Gathering comments from communities, families, teachers and school staff.
We want your input!

We all want our children to have a safe and healthy school environment. Help us create new rules for environmental health and safety in K-12 schools in Washington State. New rules affect things like testing water quality, air quality, and playground safety.

The Washington State Board of Health is creating new rules for school environmental health and safety. These new standards will affect all public and private schools in Washington State. We invite communities, families, teachers and school staff to be part of this process and to share their comments and recommendations.

Please participate!

  • Come to a listening session in October and November 2024.*
  • Join a focus group in December 2024. Focus groups will be on specific topics, like air quality, water quality, or injury prevention.
  • Come listen at the School Rule TAC meeting from August to December 2024. TAC Meeting Schedule
  • Provide your comments and recommendations. You can comment on the draft rule in December 2024 during focus groups, or you can submit comments online by going to School Environmental Health and Safety Rule comment form.
  • Subscribe to updates at School Rule Project Interest Form to receive notifications about this rule update or participate in our TAC meetings or focus groups. Under Policy Interest Areas, select "School Rule Project."
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