CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5376
Chapter 222, Laws of 2022
67th Legislature
2022 Regular Session
OFFICE OF THE EDUCATION OMBUDS—AWARENESS
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 9, 2022
Passed by the Senate March 7, 2022 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 47 Nays 1
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of
the Senate of the State of
DENNY HECK Washington, do hereby certify that
President of the Senate the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE
BILL 5376 as passed by the Senate
and the House of Representatives on
the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the House February 26, 2022
Yeas 94 Nays 1
SARAH BANNISTER
LAURIE JINKINS Secretary
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Approved March 30, 2022 2:40 PM FILED
March 31, 2022
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5376
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 2022 Regular Session
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2021 Regular Session
By Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by
Senators Wilson, C., Wellman, Conway, Das, Hunt, Kuderer, Liias,
Nobles, and Saldaña)
READ FIRST TIME 02/09/21.
1 AN ACT Relating to promoting awareness of the governor's office
2 of the education ombuds; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW;
3 adding a new section to chapter 28A.190 RCW; adding a new section to
4 chapter 28A.710 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.715 RCW;
5 and creating a new section.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
7 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes that the
8 office of the education ombuds within the office of the governor was
9 established by the legislature in 2006 to reduce educational
10 opportunity gaps by supporting families, students, educators, and
11 communities in understanding the K-12 school system and resolving
12 concerns collaboratively. The legislature recognizes that it placed
13 the education ombuds within the office of the governor to ensure
14 independence and impartiality.
15 (2) The legislature further recognizes that the education ombuds
16 provides services including:
17 (a) Informing students, parents or guardians, employees, and
18 members of the public about the state's public elementary and
19 secondary education system;
20 (b) Identifying obstacles and recommending strategies to help
21 students and community members to participate effectively in schools;
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 1 (c) Identifying and recommending strategies for improving student
2 success;
3 (d) Referring individuals and families to appropriate resources,
4 agencies, or departments;
5 (e) Facilitating the resolution of informal complaints made by
6 parents and students with regard to the state's public elementary and
7 secondary education system; and
8 (f) Serving as the lead agency to provide resources and tools to
9 parents and families about public school antiharassment policies and
10 strategies.
11 (3) The legislature intends for public schools to annually notify
12 parents or guardians, students, and school employees about these
13 services.
14 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600
15 RCW to read as follows:
16 (1) Beginning August 1, 2023, public schools must:
17 (a) Provide students and their parents or guardians with a
18 description of the services available through the office of the
19 education ombuds and the contact information for the office of the
20 education ombuds at the time of initial enrollment or admission; and
21 (b) Either: (i) Include on their website a description of the
22 services available through the office of the education ombuds and a
23 link to the website of the office of the education ombuds; or (ii)
24 provide a description of the services available through the office of
25 the education ombuds and the contact information for the office of
26 the education ombuds in existing materials that are shared annually
27 with families, students, and school employees, such as welcome
28 packets, orientation guides, and newsletters.
29 (2) Public schools are encouraged to comply with both subsection
30 (1)(b)(i) and (ii) of this section.
31 (3) By July 1, 2022, the office of the education ombuds must
32 develop a template of the information described in subsection (1) of
33 this section. The template must be translated into Spanish and into
34 other languages as resources allow. The template must be made
35 available upon request and updated as needed.
36 (4) For the purposes of this section, "public schools" has the
37 same meaning as in RCW 28A.150.010.
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1 NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.190
2 RCW to read as follows:
3 Institutional education providers must comply with the
4 requirements in section 2(1) of this act, related to provision of
5 information about the office of the education ombuds.
6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.710
7 RCW to read as follows:
8 Section 2 (1) and (2) of this act, related to provision of
9 information about the office of the education ombuds, governs school
10 operation and management under RCW 28A.710.040 and apply to charter
11 schools established under this chapter.
12 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.715
13 RCW to read as follows:
14 Section 2 (1) and (2) of this act, related to provision of
15 information about the office of the education ombuds, governs school
16 operation and management under RCW 28A.715.020 and apply to state-
17 tribal education compact schools established under this chapter.
Passed by the Senate March 7, 2022.
Passed by the House February 26, 2022.
Approved by the Governor March 30, 2022.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 31, 2022.
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