About the Author
Key Findings
- Washington state has an education emergency which SB 5882 ignores.
- Spring of 2023 test scores show that 61 percent of Washington’s students failed the state Smarter Balance test in mathematics, and 49 percent failed the English test.
- SB 5882 would increase non-teaching staff in public schools.
- Adding staff to public school payrolls increases the budgets of school unions.
- SB 5882 would strengthen the union and would not improve student learning.
- Current staffing numbers show 49 percent of school staff are non-teachers.
- Public schools have enough non-teaching staff to meet student needs.
Introduction
Lawmakers are considering SB 5882, a bill to cut the ratio of certified teachers in public schools by increasing the number of non-teaching employees. Under the bill teachers ratios in private schools and charter public schools would not be affected.
The bill is sponsored by Senators Stanford (D-Shoreline), Wellman (D-Mercer Island), Hunt (D-Olympia), Pedersen (D-Seattle) and C. Wilson (D-Federal Way). The sponsors say they introduced the bill because additional staff are needed to “better meet student needs,” as indicated by its title.
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