МОЛОДЕЖНЫЙ ЦЕНТР ЗАЩИТЫ
Senate Bill 5120
This bill would increase targeted funding for students who need additional support (Learning Assistance Program).
This bill is progressing.
BACKGROUND:
The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) was designed to provide academic and non-academic services to students who need additional academic support. Funding is provided to districts based on student eligibility for the federal Free or Reduced-Price Meals (FRPM) Program. A student is eligible for FRPM if their family’s income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
There are two parts to the LAP funding formula
Every student eligible for free or reduced-price meals program generates funding for their district based on enrollment of students districtwide
High poverty schools get an additional allocation for every student in that school who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
These allocations must be spent on the school that generates this additional funding.
High poverty is defined as districts with at least half of their students eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program
SUMMARY:
Beginning in 2026-27 the high-poverty school LAP funding formula is changed from a two-tier to a four-tier model and the per student funding levels are increased.
Using 2024-25 average district funding levels as a baseline new funding levels would be equivalent to the following:
*Some districts will receive higher rates of funding, and some will receive lower levels of funding.
POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL:
There is a growing body of research that demonstrates students from high-poverty communities need more K-12 funding to meet state academic goals than low poverty communities. Washington continues to have significant opportunity gaps in graduation rates and other adamic metrics, including for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known, to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don't want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.
Testify In Person
To testify on a bill in person, you must travel to Olympia and join the real-time committee hearing on the Capitol campus. You will also get between 1-2 minutes to state your opinion. This is often a powerful way to make an impression on legislators in the room.