Letters to the editor for Feb. 9

Special education bill ignores most vulnerable students

I realize that citizens are probably suffering from “McCleary fatigue,” just as much as lawmakers, but fully funding education in this state is not resolved. All the effort and money we have poured into education has left our most vulnerable students’ programs still relying on levy dollars.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates the gap for special education funding at around $400 million, and the current bill in the legislature only offers $12 million more towards specific programs for students spending more than 80% of their school day in general education.

If passing this bill leads lawmakers to think that our special education funding problems are solved, then it is not worth passing.

The structure of this bill supports inclusion, which is important. However, based on my experience working in special education programs, students who struggle to assimilate into general education for a significant portion of their day often need more support from educators, not less. Specifically targeting students who meet this requirement may help districts generate higher graduation rates, but it ignores the need to provide safe, supportive learning environments to those who struggle the most in school.

The bill also does not address the 13.5% cap placed on the amount of total expenditures the state will put toward special education in each district. This does not promote equity and leaves students who live in areas with the highest density of special education students without adequate funding for their programs. Once again, our most vulnerable students are left out of this policy solution.

Bill would name guardians for those with mental health or substance use issues

Senate Bill 6109, sponsored by Senators O’Ban, Becker, Hasegawa, Muzzall, Wagoner, and Zeiger, would create pilot programs in the three largest counties in Washington state that would give local governments the power to appoint executorships for individuals struggling with mental health or substance use.

Executorships would function as guardianships, and would grant the executor the authority to force an individual into involuntary treatment for mental health or substance use disorders.

This bill is one of many introduced during this legislative session aimed at addressing rising homelessness in Washington state, and Sen. O’Ban has identified that the primary target of these executorships would be homeless individuals.

Though this bill may have been created with compassionate intent, there is nothing particularly compassionate about stripping away an individual’s rights when they are not a danger to themselves or others (a qualifier identified in the language of the bill). Mental health and substance use disorders cannot be successfully treated when a patient is noncompliant.

At best, this bill would pull homeless individuals off the streets and into expensive mental health or substance use treatment that they likely do not want and therefore are unlikely to benefit from. The cost of this treatment would divert taxpayer resources, and would potentially take beds away from patients seeking voluntarily treatment.

Please consider opposing Senate Bill 6109.