Key Findings

1. Washington state has an education emergency which SB 5882 ignores. 
2. 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. 
3. SB 5882 would increase non-teaching staff in public schools.
4. Adding staff to public school payrolls increases the budgets of school unions.
5. SB 5882 would strengthen the union and would not improve student learning. 
6. Current staffing numbers show 49 percent of school staff are non-teachers. 
7. 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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