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House committee hears bill to create state complaint process for willful school law violations
Summary
A bill before the House Education Committee would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to investigate alleged willful noncompliance by school districts, authorize corrective plans and, in some cases, allow withholding or redirection of state basic education funds.
The House Education Committee took public testimony on Second Substitute Senate Bill 5,179, which would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to establish a complaint and investigation process for alleged willful noncompliance with specified state education laws.
Proponents say the bill gives families a clear enforcement path when local districts ignore state law; opponents say it risks federal conflicts and weakens local control.
Under the bill, OSPI must implement by July 1, 2026, a process to investigate two complaint types: limited complaints affecting individual students and broad complaints affecting a school or district. If OSPI finds noncompliance, local superintendents and boards must adopt a compliance action plan developed with OSPI, school staff, parents, students and community representatives. If OSPI finds willful noncompliance, the agency may require policy changes, refer certified superintendents for professional discipline, and — as a last resort — withhold up…
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