Transcript Highlights:

• Academic freedom is not just a lofty ideal.
• These aren't just academic exercises.
• Gonzalez: all academic issues.
• Taking away our voice and academic freedom Dr.
• Faculty use their expertise to achieve these goals.

Bills: SB 37

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• achievement compared to their peers.
• As students transition into adolescence, their academic and social pressures increase significantly.
• Studies show that physical activity during the school day improves focus, behavior, and even academic
• I urge you to please consider passing this bill and celebrating the achievements...
• My academic career did not fall short due to these experiences.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a very full public hearing on the first Education Committee hearing of the session, with testimony taken on a large slate of bills, especially H. 650/S. 436 and related measures. The chairs explained the hearing rules, including two-minute testimony limits, live streaming, written testimony, and accommodations for interpreters and disabilities. The committee first heard extensive testimony on H. 460/S. 436 and later H. 650/S. 436, bills to affirm and maintain equal access to public education for all children, including immigrant students, English learners, and students with disabilities. Witnesses included parents, advocates, educators, attorneys, and state officials, many of whom described fears caused by federal policy changes and argued that Massachusetts should codify protections for school enrollment, special education, interpreter services, and due process in discipline cases. The Attorney General’s office, Mass Advocates for Children, Lawyers for Civil Rights, MIRA, the Children’s Law Center, the Disability Law/advocacy community, and others all urged favorable action, while committee members asked questions about Plyler v. Doe, manifestation determinations, interpreter qualifications, and how the bill would mirror or preserve existing federal protections at the state level. The committee also heard testimony on H. 702/S. 460, establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program, which was supported as a way to expand STEM opportunities and help schools fund robotics programs. Representative Sweeney also testified on H. 713, a bill to support student participation in 4-H programming by allowing excused absences similar to those for athletics and other sanctioned activities; members noted bipartisan support and the bill’s long history. The hearing then moved to H. 543/S. 417, a recess bill requiring at least 30 minutes of free-play recess for K-8 students. Supporters included the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the League of Women Voters, educators, and parents, who emphasized recess as important for physical health, social-emotional development, attention, and academic performance, and noted that unequal local policies create disparities across districts. Several witnesses also tied recess to broader concerns about student well-being and screen time. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee simply received testimony and closed testimony on the bills as it moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> currently</c><00:11:45.760><c> used</c> So the academic standards currently used So the academic
• </c> all this time, student achievement all this time, student achievement nationwide<00:11:55.360><c
• </c> future academic opportunities. future academic opportunities.
• </c> struggle academically. struggle academically.
• </c> achievable in two years? achievable in two years?

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and also academic growth just for the bottom 25%.
• and also academic growth just for the bottom 25%.
• I was in a how we achieve success.
• </c> schools that achieved 100%. schools that achieved 100%.
• </c> That's our benchmark for achievement.

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the funding for foundational academics is essential.
• He said early math and reading achievement strongly predict later academic success, credential attainment
• Fine arts programs improve academic performance. How?
• an additional year or more of academic growth.
• Like those supported through TIA, students can achieve an additional year or more of academic growth.

Bills: HB2

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dan Brown, who's the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at New Mexico Highlands University
• Dan Brown, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs here at Highlands.
• I'd like to begin today by discussing a few highlights from our academic departments and our commitment
• our primary goals. which are student success and academic excellence.
• Our goal is to improve student success as we close achievement gaps in access and completion.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes student achievement reporting at the school level and This includes student achievement
• Some are by principals, some are by chief academic officers.
• We understand that the focus must remain on improving academic outcomes for students.
• Without these tools, we hinder the very progress we seek to achieve.
• Section 77, Department of Education personnel to carry out plans to improve academic achievement of pupils

Committee: Assembly Education

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in your testimony, you alluded to approaches to achieve mastery in the last year.
• How the students achieve, whether it's in math, language arts, or financial literacy.
• ><c> whether</c><00:23:50.560><c> it's</c> How the students achieve, whether it's How the students achieve
• </c> categories including academic categories including academic performance,<00:57:53.400><c> management
• </c> academic strategy for the UH system. academic strategy for the UH system.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SCR 78, which urges the Department of Education to strengthen natural health education and adopt a comprehensive menstrual cycle curriculum. The Department of Education said it supported the intent and had offered technical amendments to scaffold the curriculum by grade level. The Commission on the Status of Women and several advocates, including students and Ma'i Movement Hawaiʻi, testified in support, describing gaps in menstrual health education, stigma, and the need for more inclusive, age-appropriate instruction. No opposition was heard, and the chair moved on after no questions from members. The committee then took up SCR 194, urging the Department of Education to meet the criteria to recognize cheerleading as a Title IX sport. The Department supported the measure, noting recent expansion of girls flag football and surfing as recognized sports and saying cheerleading would create additional opportunities for students. The Commission on the Status of Women also supported the resolution, saying it could improve participation, resource allocation, and representation for female students. No opposition or further action was recorded in the excerpt. Finally, the committee discussed SCR 195, requesting the Board of Education and Department of Education to revise graduation requirements to include a standalone financial literacy course. The Board of Education and Department of Education both supported the intent but cautioned against a one-size-fits-all mandate, emphasizing school-level flexibility, existing stand-alone and online options, and the requirement that the class of 2030 must complete financial literacy before graduation. Hawaii Kids Can supported the resolution while raising questions about equity, access, quality, and how different delivery models compare; it also asked for more information on community survey data. Committee members questioned the department and board about asynchronous versus in-person instruction, standards, and how the requirement would be tracked in the personal transition plan. No vote or final action was taken in the provided portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mental health and academic achievement are connected, and if a student is overwhelmed or struggling emotionally
• Mental health and academic achievement are connected, and if a student is overwhelmed or struggling emotionally
• When these needs go unmet, students miss school, disengage, and fall behind academically.
• When these needs go unmet, students miss school, disengage, and fall behind academically.
• Over time, anxiety decreased and academic engagement improved.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three K-12 bills focused on behavioral health, literacy, and review of education mandates. On House Bill 1634, staff and Rep. Milin Tai described a framework for OSPI and educational service districts to coordinate with state and local partners on behavioral health technical assistance and training for schools, aligned with the Washington Thriving prenatal-to-25 plan. Testifiers, including students and education/behavioral health representatives, said the bill would improve coordination, early intervention, and access to supports for students and families. The bill was presented as having no fiscal note because it relies on existing funding, and testimony emphasized parent and student engagement in the framework. On House Bill 2636, staff and Rep. Skyler Rude explained that the bill creates a Public Education Review Steering Committee to identify existing policies and funding provisions for JLARC review, with the goal of determining whether they achieve intended outcomes, improve student performance, are cost-effective, and should be maintained, modified, or repealed. Supporters said the bill is intended to help reduce burdensome or ineffective requirements on school districts and free resources for students, while some members questioned how the committee would define policy and whether it could affect future mandates. A representative of the Washington State School Directors Association supported the concept as a meaningful review of unfunded mandates. The committee also heard House Bill 1295, which would require evidence-aligned literacy curriculum updates after 2027, require comprehensive K-4 literacy programs using structured literacy practices, direct PESB to revise literacy endorsement standards, require literacy-related continuing education, and direct OSPI to develop educator literacy training. Supporters, including parents, educators, students, dyslexia advocates, and district staff, argued that structured literacy is supported by research and would improve outcomes for struggling readers and students with dyslexia. One witness from the Washington Education Association supported the bill but raised concern about adding another continuing-education requirement. Testimony on the bill was extensive and largely in favor, with some discussion about whether the approach would address older students and how it would interact with existing district and ESD efforts. After public hearings, the committee moved into executive session and approved three gubernatorial appointments for confirmation recommendation. It adopted an amendment to House Bill 1796 and advanced the bill to Ways and Means, passed Engrossed House Bill 2317 to Rules, and adopted a striking amendment to Substitute House Bill 2594 before advancing it to Ways and Means. All actions were taken by voice vote, with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next slide identifies academic outcomes for our students.
• What we see nationally is that academic performance is negatively impacted by distance learning.
• What the 2017 study identified is that virtual charter schools produce lower academic outcomes.
• achievement.
• But I think nationally we know, based on data, that overall their academic outcomes are lower.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to the CTCs, they will serve about 109,000 FTEs and 161,000 headcount during the 2025-26 academic
• Most state programs are administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council.
• Most state programs are administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council.
• So I worked with the Washington Student Achievement Council on the language of this bill.
• We can help the state achieve its degree attainment goal and students with their... Thank you.

Summary: The Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee held a work session on higher education funding and then public hearings on House Bill 2148 and House Bill 2132. In the work session, OPR staff Kate Henry reviewed enrollment trends, tuition policy, financial aid programs, and funding sources for Washington’s public colleges and universities. Members asked about FTE versus headcount, tuition growth, the Washington College Grant, College Bound, and the Workforce Education Investment Account. Henry explained how state appropriations, tuition, and financial aid interact, and noted that higher education makes up a significant share of the state budget. No votes were taken during the work session. House Bill 2148 would create a “pay-it-forward” graduate student aid program administered by the Student Achievement Council, allowing students to receive tuition support and later make income-based contributions for up to 15 years to fund future students. Sponsor Rep. Reid said the bill is intended to offset the loss of federal graduate loan options and support workforce needs in fields like nursing, teaching, and research. Committee questions focused on repayment terms, possible caps, interest, and program capitalization. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with students and advocates arguing the bill would expand access to graduate education and avoid predatory private debt. House Bill 2132 would limit disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information from WASFA applications, generally requiring the Student Achievement Council and institutions to stop retaining that information after one year following the award year unless needed for an audit or appeal. Rep. Leavitt said the bill is meant to reduce unnecessary long-term retention of sensitive student data and improve privacy and security. Supporters, including student leaders and immigrant-advocacy groups, said the bill would protect vulnerable students and increase trust in the aid process. Some members raised concerns about whether shorter retention could affect future record needs, including immigration-related documentation, but the sponsor said students can keep their own records and that the bill preserves audit authority. The hearing ended without a vote, and the chair noted an upcoming busy schedule and cutoff deadlines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, we've been building on the university's academic and research excellence, including leading
• Degrees eliminated, course offerings reduced, and fewer academic and student support services for the
• Chancellor Garcia, you mentioned you had achieved some savings.
• I'm a professor at Cal State Northridge, and I'm the vice chair of the Academic Senate of the CSU.
• Chair of the Academic Senate of the CSU. I'm here to ask you not to cut the CSU.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For all students. rank first in academic growth for low-income students first.
• academically would you say?
• Yes, I would say the achievement gaps are very large there.
• Is there a ranking for private schools, academically? A ranking?
• Ladner, we should, you did the same, you academic guys, you wrote on here.

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• 29:09.919><c> the</c> of Boulder, Colorado to represent the of Boulder, Colorado to represent the academic
• </c><00:29:11.480><c> Aaron</c> academic community, appointed. Aaron academic community, appointed.
• Support the further strengthening of trade relations and academic exchanges between Colorado and Taiwan
• relations and academic exchanges between Colorado<00:33:39.640><c> and</c><00:33:39.800><c> Taiwan.
• </c> cannot achieve. cannot achieve.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MMI does have a, uh, academic requirement.
• achieving before they came to us.
• This fall, we are heading into our first year with a full academic program.
• We are minimalist in every way except the academic program.
• So we've put everything into the academic program.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I believe that it is working on that level, but I think the most And student achievement.
• Student achievement, we will be able to move in a positive trajectory there.
• As far as the pressing challenges are concerned, it's increasing academic achievement in language arts
• So I think those will be some that will help close that achievement gap. Thank you.
• So I think those will be some that will help close that achievement gap. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Wei Zhang, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Social Sciences at Manoa.
• Affairs at the college ofal academic Affairs at the college ofal Sciences<00:20:29.360><c> at</c><00
• I talked to the academic labor union at the school.
• I talked to the academic labor union at the school.
• I talked to the academic labor union at the school.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on March 14, 2025, and heard five University of Hawaii-related bills. SB 741 would create an external audit committee for the UH system and Board of Regents; UH and UHPA opposed it, saying existing internal and external audits already provide robust oversight, and the committee later recommended deferring the bill indefinitely as duplicative. SB 1252 SD2 would create a dementia training program for health care providers; the Alzheimer’s Association and other supporters said broader training is needed across the care workforce, while the university discussed using JABSOM as a coordinator. The committee deferred the bill to March 19 for an HD1 reflecting JABSOM’s suggestions and removing the appropriations/FTE language. SB 1502 SD1 would fund faculty positions, student programs, and facilities at UH Manoa and West Oahu for defense-sector workforce development. UH and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii supported the measure, describing a pipeline for students into intelligence, cybersecurity, and related fields, while one individual opposed it as too closely tied to military contracting and urged investment in other sectors instead. The committee amended the bill to remove FTE references and advanced it; the vote to pass with amendments was adopted, with several members voting aye and some excused. SB 1530 would require performance-based allocation of UH general funds and efficiency reporting. UH and the Attorney General’s office raised concerns, saying the bill’s metrics would apply across the entire general fund budget and were not practical as drafted; the committee also noted opposition from the Budget and Finance Department and individuals. SB 1624 SD1 would restrict RIM funds to renewing, improving, or modernizing existing facilities and require annual reports. UH opposed the bill and explained that RIM is a lump-sum approach used to address deferred maintenance and capital needs, with Board of Regents approval and quarterly reporting already in place; the Attorney General suggested constitutional amendments. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1624, with no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and the more children can be exposed to academics and art, it will increase their academic performance
• , and the more children can be exposed to academics and art, it will increase their academic performance
• Yes, and the more children can be exposed to academics and art, it will increase their academic performance
• </c> understanding that there's an academic understanding that there's an academic aspect<00:20:20.000
• Not just for their achievements, but for their legacy.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Improving literacy and reading in the state is fundamental to helping people to achieve the American
• To achieve the American dream.
• For many families, libraries are a gateway to literacy and academic success.
• She will be going to Washington, D.C. in May to be recognized... ...for this achievement.
• Due to their impressive backgrounds and academic achievements, the students with us today were chosen

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a UNF grad along with my wife, so it's our academic home.
• Is academically unwarranted.
• And again, maintain the academic, the ivory tower understanding of things.
• We have more than 15,000 students and more than 100 academic programs.
• We have more than 15,000 students and more than 100 academic programs.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all