Committee debates House Bill 1450 to tighten rules for transition‑to‑kindergarten programs

House Bill 1450, a proposed statute that would revise and tighten the state's Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) program, drew a mix of support and concern during a public hearing before the House Education Committee.

Megan Morgacki, committee counsel, briefed members on differences between current law (including the 2023 bill that renamed transitional kindergarten to transition to kindergarten) and the bill before the committee. She said the bill would require OSPI to implement an application process for districts to operate or expand TTK by December 31, 2025; authorize OSPI and DCYF to coordinate site approvals; limit enrollment to certain birthdate ranges and to children without access to other high‑quality state or federal early‑learning programs; require coordinated enrollment plans and memoranda of understanding with local providers; and align program elements with ECAP performance standards and the state's quality rating system, Early Achievers.

Sponsor Chair Sharon Tomiko Santos (who introduced the bill in the House) said the bill is intended to protect Washington's mixed delivery early‑learning ecosystem as the state implements an entitlement in 2026. She said school districts have used basic‑education funding to expand TTK, sometimes without coordination, and that the bill is meant to prevent school districts from undermining private and nonprofit early‑learning providers in…