WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION

SB 5189: Competency-based education

Supporting the implementation of competency-based education.

Summary

  • Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in competency-based education (CBE) programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards.
  • Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) develop and recommend a process to identify and designate schools and school districts that are implementing CBE, and identify costs associated with this process.
  • Directs the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to review barriers related to students participating in CBE in its rule adoption process.
  • Requires SBE, in consultation with other agencies, to develop or identify and recommend a format for a CBE high school transcript as part of, or as an alternative to the standardized high school transcript.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5189), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 278, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 28, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 5, 2025
  4. Passed HouseApr 15, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 13, 2025
  6. LawMay 13, 2025
Prime sponsor
Lisa Wellman (D-41)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
May 13, 2025
Session law
Chapter 278, Laws of 2025
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to supporting the implementation of competency-based education;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Lisa Wellman (D-41)

7 co-sponsors (6 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Manka Dhingra D-45Paul Harris R-17T'wina Nobles D-28Claire Wilson D-30Claudia Kauffman D-47Bob Hasegawa D-11Rebecca Saldaña D-37

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 5, 2025
Version voted on: SB 5189
47 Yea 2 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29100
Republican18100
How each member voted

Yea (47)

Nay (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 15, 2025
Version voted on: SB 5189
63 Yea 33 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican53301
How each member voted

Yea (63)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 17, 2025
Version voted on: SB 5189
44 Yea 5 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican14500
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.
  2. Chapter 278, 2025 Laws.
  3. Governor signed.
  4. Delivered to Governor.
  5. Speaker signed.
  6. President signed.
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 44; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 0.
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 63; nays, 33; absent, 0; excused, 2.
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  14. Minority; without recommendation.
  15. Minority; do not pass.
  16. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
  17. APP - Executive action taken by committee.
  18. Referred to Appropriations.
  19. ED - Executive action taken by committee.
  20. Minority; without recommendation.
  21. ED - Majority; do pass.
  22. First reading, referred to Education.
  23. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 0.
  24. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  25. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  26. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  27. Minority; without recommendation.
  28. WM - Majority; do pass.
  29. Referred to Ways & Means.
  30. Minority; without recommendation.
  31. Minority; do not pass.
  32. And refer to Ways & Means.
  33. EDU - Majority; do pass.
  34. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.
  35. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5189 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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