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Debate over waiving state rules for individual schools exposes split between districts and state regulators
Summary
Senate Bill 6051 would let local boards grant waivers of many state requirements to individual schools; supporters say it relieves unfunded mandates, while OSPI and the State Board warn it could weaken uniform basic‑education standards and harm special‑education protections.
Olympia — Lawmakers and education stakeholders clashed over Senate Bill 6051 on Jan. 20, as school leaders urged flexibility to relieve unfunded mandates and state officials warned the bill grants sweeping local waiver authority that could undermine statewide basic‑education standards.
The bill, summarized by committee staff, would allow local school boards to grant waivers or partial waivers of certain state laws and rules to individual schools within a district. The measure lists explicit prohibitions on waiver authority for some categories — including health and safety, nondiscrimination, basic education, employment checks, open public meetings and public‑records…
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