Bill > HB1241

This bill aims to improve access to and provision of a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities by introducing several key provisions. School districts will now be required to provide parents with detailed information about special education services, including contact information for the education ombuds and resources from the superintendent of public instruction, and ensuring parents receive documents in a language they understand. The bill establishes specific timelines and procedures for special education evaluations, requiring districts to decide within 22 calendar days whether to conduct an initial evaluation and complete the evaluation within 60 calendar days of receiving parental consent. Districts must now track and report data on the time taken for special education referrals, evaluations, and service delivery, and make this information publicly available. The bill encourages using multitiered systems of support to identify students with potential learning disabilities and requires quarterly quantitative service reports for students with individualized education programs. Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts take necessary actions to ensure parents understand special education meetings, including providing interpreters and translation services for limited English proficient parents. The legislation also allocates up to $2 million annually to educational service districts to help make school psychologists and disability experts available for special education evaluations, with funding set to expire in 2035.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1241&Year=2025&Initiative=false