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Senate bill would fund digital diagnostic tools for K‑12 reading and math
Summary
Senate Bill 5008 would create a grant program through OSPI to help public schools, charter schools and tribal compact schools buy or maintain access to digital assessment and learning platforms for math and English language arts; the program would be subject to appropriation, expire at the end of 2028 and requires an annual outcomes report.
Senate Bill 5008 would establish a grant program at OSPI to support K‑12 use of assessment, diagnostic and learning tools for math and English language arts, the committee heard.
The bill directs OSPI to set up grants that help public school districts, charter schools and state‑tribal education compact schools purchase or maintain access to a digital platform with tools to identify individual students’ needs and monitor progress. “The platform in question must have a criterion referenced component,” committee staff said. OSPI must award grants based on need, ensure geographic and size variation among recipients, and report on program outcomes by Nov. 1 each year.
In a brief presentation, committee staff said state law already requires OSPI to provide a collection of diagnostic assessments and that the bill is intended to help districts buy digital platforms that meet the existing statutory expectations (inexpensive, easy to administer and score, and shareable). The staff fiscal note says operating costs to OSPI to administer the grant program would be about $48,000 in the 2025–27 biennium. The grant program is subject to appropriation and “expires at the end of the 2028 calendar year,” staff told the committee.
Senator Braun, prime sponsor, told the panel the bill is “very straightforward” and said districts have reported success with programs such as STAR Reading and I‑Ready. Braun said the platforms give teachers near‑immediate feedback so they can “shape the learning plan accordingly” rather than waiting weeks for results. When asked whether the platforms require individual student devices or use classroom computers, Braun said she understood they are typically run on classroom equipment and would not require each student to have a device. She also said some platforms are incorporating artificial intelligence but did not assert that all current products rely on AI.
No public testimony was recorded for SB 5008 during the hearing portion of the committee meeting.
The committee closed the presentation on SB 5008 and proceeded to other agenda items.
