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WashingtonSB 53582025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Concerning career and technical education in sixth grade.

Sponsored By: John Braun (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Sixth graders gain limited career-course access

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington districts may let sixth-grade middle school students take exploratory career and technical education courses. Districts do not have to offer these courses. Districts cannot count these students toward the state career-program funding allocations covered by the law.

Schools face career-program spending and quality rules

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington districts must combine funded middle and high school career programs for accounting only. This covers minimum spending, money carried forward, and amounts recovered; it cannot cause unequal program quality across grade levels. When specified career-program allocations exceed general education allocations, districts must use the difference only for approved career-program purposes. These include staff pay and benefits; materials, supplies, and operating costs; smaller classes; internships, preapprenticeships, and related coursework coordination. Other allowed uses include new high-quality career and expanded learning programs in high-demand fields, certificated work-based learning coordinators, and career guidance advisors. Districts may also cover student fees for nationally or state-recognized industry certifications and develop course equivalencies integrating core learning standards. Allowed partnership expenses include career discovery, research- or evidence-based mentoring, and expanded learning during school, before or after school, and in summer. Partners may include public and private K–12 schools and colleges, community and nonprofit groups, industry, tribal governments, and workforce development organizations. Indirect charges for state-funded career programs cannot exceed the lower of 5% or the federal career-funding cap as of September 1, 2017.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Braun

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adrian Cortes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Drew MacEwen

    Republican • Senate

  • Jesse Salomon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Leonard Christian

    Republican • Senate

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marko Liias

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 143 • No: 1

House vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 95 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/22/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 134, 2025 Laws.

    4/22/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/17/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/16/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/15/2025legislature

  7. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  8. Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/10/2025Senate

  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  11. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/4/2025Senate

  12. APP - Majority; do pass.

    4/4/2025Senate

  13. First reading, referred to Appropriations.

    3/8/2025Senate

  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/6/2025Senate

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/6/2025Senate

  16. 2nd substitute bill substituted.

    3/6/2025Senate

  17. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/5/2025Senate

  18. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/28/2025Senate

  19. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/28/2025Senate

  20. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/28/2025Senate

  21. Referred to Ways & Means.

    2/13/2025Senate

  22. And refer to Ways & Means.

    2/12/2025Senate

  23. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/12/2025Senate

  24. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

    1/20/2025Senate

  25. Introduced

    1/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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