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Bill would allow exploratory CTE for sixth graders but not state funding; students urge restoring funding
Summary
Second Substitute SB 5358 would let districts offer exploratory career and technical education (CTE) to sixth graders but would not count sixth graders in enrollment for CTE funding; bill changes accounting of CTE funding across middle/high school; OSPI and students urged reinstating funding for sixth graders.
The committee considered Second Substitute Senate Bill 5358, which would permit school districts to offer exploratory career and technical education (CTE) courses to sixth‑grade students but would not allow districts to count sixth graders in enrollment figures used to generate CTE allocations.
James Mackensen (staff) briefed the committee: under current law, CTE funding is provided for students in grades 7–12; the bill would allow exploratory CTE for sixth graders but explicitly prohibits counting those sixth graders for CTE apportionment. The bill also changes accounting treatment by combining middle‑ and high‑school CTE courses into a single program for purposes of minimum expenditures, carryover, and recovery amounts; the change is stated to be accounting only and must “not result in disparate program quality across grade levels.” OSPI would incur a one‑time IT cost estimated at $9,000 to implement a new single apportionment program.
Public testimony included students and OSPI staff who urged restoring funding. Nate Block, a Bellevue School District senior, testified that the earlier bill iteration funded sixth‑grade CTE but funding language was removed; he warned that unfunded sixth‑grade CTE could result in districts cutting exploratory offerings given current budget pressures. OSPI representatives said they supported access but noted the funding provision was cut from the current bill and they would advocate to restore funding in future years.
There was no committee vote on the bill during the hearing; staff said the bill does not directly change state funding formulas but could change how districts spend funding generated for CTE depending on implementation.
