The bill seeks to enhance the operational independence of several education agencies in Washington State, including the state board of education, the Washington professional educator standards board, the Washington state charter school commission, and the financial education public-private partnership. It removes the requirement for these agencies to be administratively housed within the office of the superintendent of public instruction, allowing them to secure their own administrative services tailored to their unique operational needs. The transition to operational independence is set to begin in July 2026, with full independence expected by July 1, 2027. The office of financial management will coordinate this transition, ensuring that each agency establishes the necessary policies and procedures for their independent operations.

Key amendments include establishing the state board of education as an independent agency and transferring all relevant documents, personnel, and assets from the office of the superintendent of public instruction to the state board. The bill also requires the governor to consider the diversity of the state's population when making appointments to the boards, delegates authority to the executive director of the boards for hiring and contract management, and outlines the composition and appointment process for the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership and the Charter School Commission. Members will serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. The bill includes provisions for the transfer of existing contracts and obligations to the new entities and establishes a timeline for implementation, with sections taking effect on July 1, 2027, unless specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2026, in which case the act would be null and void.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.305.130, 28A.300.020, 28A.410.200, 28A.300.450, 28A.710.070
Substitute Bill: 28A.305.130, 28A.300.020, 28A.410.200, 28A.300.450, 28A.710.070
Second Substitute: 28A.305.130, 28A.300.020, 28A.410.200, 28A.300.450, 28A.710.070