Washington House Bill HB1580

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/25
• Refer: 1/24/25

Caption

AN ACT Relating to career and technical education in alternative learning experience programs;

Summary

HB 1580 amends Washington law governing alternative learning experience (ALE) programs to require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to separately calculate and allocate state funding for each full-time equivalent student enrolled in an ALE course. The allocation is tied to the estimated statewide annual average allocation per full-time equivalent student in grades 9 through 12 in general education, with reference to applicable rules and provisions in the omnibus appropriations act. The bill also provides that when the ALE course is a vocational alternative learning experience course, the state funding allocated for that student must include vocational program funding enhancements. In effect, the measure clarifies that ALE students are to be funded through a distinct calculation rather than being folded into broader school district allocations, and it ensures vocational ALE programs receive the additional funding associated with career and technical education.

Impact

HB 1580 would change how state education dollars are distributed to school districts for students in alternative learning experience programs by creating a separate funding calculation for ALE enrollments. It would affect RCW provisions governing school finance and ALE programs, and it would likely increase clarity for districts, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and program operators about how funding is determined for online, blended, or other nontraditional learning settings. For vocational ALE courses, the bill would also direct that career and technical education funding enhancements be included, potentially increasing support for CTE offerings delivered through ALE.

Sentiment

Based on the bill caption and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a technical funding measure aimed at improving clarity and equity in how alternative learning experience programs are financed. The overall framing is neutral to favorable toward supporting CTE students in alternative settings, with no documented opposition or controversy in the available record.

Contention

No committee transcript or vote history is provided, so there is no direct evidence of specific objections or amendments. The main potential point of contention implied by the bill is fiscal: school districts, budget writers, or policymakers could differ over whether ALE students should receive a separate funding calculation and whether vocational ALE courses should receive enhanced CTE funding on top of the base allocation. Another possible issue is administrative complexity, since the Superintendent of Public Instruction would need to separately calculate and allocate these funds.