{"id":108549,"date":"2026-02-17T19:06:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T03:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/?p=108549"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:07:11","slug":"washington-political-news-for-families-key-updates-this-week-feb-15-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/washington-political-news-for-families-key-updates-this-week-feb-15-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"This Hits Home: News that impacts Washington families"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being a parent is nonstop hard work, making it challenging to stay on top of news that impacts families in Washington state. This Hits Home is your weekly hit of news, commentary, and, occasionally, opinion. Want to have a say? Look for the \u2018Take action\u2019 prompts. Here\u2019s the update for the week of Feb. 9-15.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><b>SPS expands highly capable program to two more schools<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Seattle Public School highly capable services available in only one elementary, middle, and high school in Seattle, parents and teachers have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/education-lab\/highly-capable-services-dont-measure-up-across-seattle-schools-families-say\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">long voiced concern<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over inequitable access to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">specialized educational programs for K-12 students who perform or show potential to perform at significantly advanced academic levels<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The district announced last week that, as of next September, the highly capable program will also be available at Rainier View Elementary in South Seattle and Alki Elementary in West Seattle. They join programs at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Washington Middle School, and Garfield High School in the city\u2019s Central District.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThese new sites are a direct response to what we heard during our community engagement sessions\u2014families and educators asked for services closer to home,\u201d wrote <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paula Montgomery, drirector of SPS\u2019 Highly Capable program, in an email to parents. She added the program gained 700 students this year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which site a student would be assigned do depends on their home school elementary boundary:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Rainier View Elementary <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will serve Emerson, Rainier View, Dunlap, Wing Luke, MLK, Graham Hill, South Shore, Dearborn Park, Maple, and Rising Star elementaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Alki Elementary <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will serve<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lafayette, Alki, Genesse Hill, Fairmount Park, Gatewood, West Seattle Elementary, Sanislo, Concord, Highland Park, Roxhill, and Arbor Heights elementarie.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, <\/span><b>Thurgood Marshall Elementary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will serve Hawthorne, Montlake, McGilvra, Stevens, Lowell, Madrona, Leschi, Bailey Gatzert, Beacon Hill, Thurgood Marshall, Kimball, and John Muir elementaries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Montgomery also clarified for kids already in highly capable classrooms: &#8220;Families with students currently attending Thurgood Marshall also have the option to remain through 5th grade.\u00a0 Additionally, there is no further action needed for families who would like to remain at their current school.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results for highly capable entrance assessments for the 2026\u201327 school year are out this month, and SPS has extended the enrollment window for all five locations for current and newly identified advanced learners through Feb. 28. Late applications will be accepted through March 31. Learn more about the district\u2019s distribution of highly capable students <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/education-lab\/south-seattle-getting-more-advanced-learning-programs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in this article from The Seattle Times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_108445\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 610px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-108445\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3ca978_9107680ede574f3ca02828e0c027e2cd-1-e1770856373202.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"492\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Image of courtesy The Reptile Zoo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><b>Good-bye to The Reptile Zoo, again<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s for sure this time: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thereptilezoo.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Reptile Zoo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a popular haunt for reptile-loving kids since 1996, will close its doors permanently on Feb. 16.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The once-busy 7,000-square-foot roadside menagerie in Monroe first announced its closure last October. Zoo owner Isaac Petersen said then that the attraction suffered during the pandemic and has since been burdened by rising costs. The October <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/reptile-zoo-monroe-not-closing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">media coverage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> drew visitors to the zoo on Highway 2, leading to a brief comeback that ends this week.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no going back this time. Zoo owners have rehomed most of their animals\u2014although some are still available. If your family has the know-how and space, you mightconsider contacting the zoo. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/the-reptile-zoo-will-close-feb-16-really\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read the whole story at Seattleschild.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_108550\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 610px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-108550\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iStock-1331595156-e1771100726658.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Should phones be banned at the state level? (Image: iStock.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><b>Should WA follow the stateside cellphone ban trend?\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington state does not currently have a statewide <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">law<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that outright bans cellphones in schools. Here, we allow school districts to make their own restrictions (or not) on student use of cellphones and other mobile devices. And all districts in the state have some form of restriction or ban in place to stop kids from using devices in class or on school grounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But a statewide no cellphone rule? Not here, not yet. But if the momentum behind statewide cellphone bans and restrictions in schools continues, maybe one day Washington will follow suit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stateline.org\/2026\/02\/03\/as-school-cellphone-bans-gain-in-popularity-lawmakers-say-its-time-to-go-bell-to-bell\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a recent report by Stateline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the nonprofit news network, more than half of states<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(38 states and Washington, D.C.) have enacted a state-level law that <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">restricts<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cellphone use in schools. And teachers, superintendents and education experts are waving flags of praise and celebration. They connect state-level policies to increased student attention and learning, improved student mental health, and stronger school communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those states, the legislative question is: for how much of the school day should distracting devices be inaccessible to students?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently in Washington, which falls smack in the middle of two major student achievement scales and still has many students struggling with math and reading, the state legislature is considering a measure that addresses cellphone use in school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Feb. 11, the Senate fast-tracked and approved <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=5346&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><b>Senate Bill 5346<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which would task the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with gathering research, best practices, and district policies on limiting use of mobile devices in schools. The measure would help districts develop strong cellphone policies. So no statewide ban this year. For us, the question remains, \u201cIs the decision to ban cellphones in schools really a local issue?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">TAKE ACTION<\/span>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you have an opinion on whether a ban on cellphone use in schools should be mandated by state law? I\u2019d love to hear it. Email me at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:cheryl@seattleschild.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cheryl@seattleschild.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You have a voice on SB 5346: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reach out to your representatives <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leg.wa.gov\/legislators\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the state House and Senate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_108552\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 610px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-108552\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iStock-1192576079-e1771101086106.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Greenhouse gas causing car exhaust (Image: iStock.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><b>Speaking of flowers \u2026and Trump\u2019s reversal of climate change protections<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it feels like spring is arriving earlier each year\u2014 or lingering longer \u2014 in Seattle, you\u2019re not imagining it. Long-term weather data from stations across Washington show that last frost dates are creeping earlier, and those first truly warm days are appearing earlier on the calendar. Scientists call it \u201cseason creep.\u201d Over the past century, the Northwest has steadily warmed, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatehubs.usda.gov\/hubs\/northwest\/topic\/climate-change-impacts-northwest?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate Change Impacts in the Northwest webpage<\/span><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, as the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/community-and-environment\/climate-and-health\/pollen?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington Department of Health points out<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, climate change means the pollen Washington now starts about 20 days earlier and stretches roughly a month longer than it did three decades ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So yes, Virginia, er, President Donald Trump, climate change is real. Just ask<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/climate-change\/evidence\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NASA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/news\/national-academies-publish-new-report-reviewing-evidence-for-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-u-s-climate-health-and-welfare\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> National Academy of Sciences<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, whose evidence-based research finds a clear and inarguable link.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And yet, last week, Trump revoked the Obama-era foundation for federal climate protections in the U.S. \u2014 a scientific finding that said greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">endanger public health and welfare<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That \u201cendangerment finding\u201d was what allowed the federal government to regulate vehicle tailpipe emissions and other greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act, and its undoing removes that legal basis. And unless Congress acts, or courts block the change, the country will not be able to regulate the single largest source of greenhouse gases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trump says it will lower consumer costs and expand vehicle choice. Climate scientists and environmental advocates warn that it undermines decades of climate progress and weakens the country\u2019s ability to slow global warming and protect public health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve got kids. Your kids, grandkids, and their progeny will inherit the planet. What do you think about one of the most far-reaching decisions of the Trump administration?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>TAKE ACTION: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to hear how you feel about the revocation of the endangerment finding; what concerns do you have, if any? Email me at Cheryl@seattleschild.com. Do you think Congress needs to take action on this issue? Make your voice heard.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact your members of Congress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_108513\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 650px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-108513 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HHKD-2026-261-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Washington Millionaires Tax SB 6346\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Soleil Boyd, executive director of Children&#8217;s Alliance speaks in Olympia in January (Image: Children&#8217;s Alliance)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><b>Could a \u2018millionaires tax\u2019 be an investment in a future for all families?<\/b><b><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill that would impose a 9.9% tax on Washingtonians who earn more than $1 million in a year was passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee last week for consideration by the full Senate. If passed by the full legislature and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=6346&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 6346<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, (the \u201cmillionaires tax,\u201d) would start collecting about\u00a0 $3.5 billion a year in 2028, with some exemptions and restrictions. In response, Washington\u2019s largest statewide nonprofit children\u2019s advocacy group, Children\u2019s Alliance, threw its full support behind the potential tax.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRevenue from this tax would primarily go into the state\u2019s General Fund to support vital programs and services like health care and education,\u201d Dr. Soleil Boyd, Children\u2019s Alliance executive director wrote in a Seattle\u2019s Child op-ed on Friday. The tax, Boyd wrote, is a key to stopping the cycle of cutting vital programs in times of state budget deficit only to refund them in better financial times.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis year, many critical programs are at risk of funding cuts and delays \u2013 but one stands out: early learning,\u201d she wrote. \u201cCuts to early learning make up 40% of all proposed cuts in the budget, which would cause thousands of families to lose access to care and leave early learning providers without the necessary resources to provide a living wage for their staff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read Boyd\u2019s full argument in support of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=6346&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 6346<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span><b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">AKE ACTION:<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make your voice heard on the proposed \u201cmillionaires tax,\u201d reach out to your representatives <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leg.wa.gov\/legislators\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the state House and Senate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-108557\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-14-at-12.42.29%E2%80%AFPM-e1771101851519.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"200\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><b>Parents! Take this survey!<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This month, 4Culture, King County\u2019s cultural funding agency, wants to hear from county residents\u2014especially families\u2014about how often, where, and when you go out to explore the region through theater, museums, festivals, music, films, public art, and other events and cultural activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As 4Culture explains, the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/survey.alchemer.com\/s3\/8654762\/4culture\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">King County Resident Cultural Participation Survey<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">helps <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4Culture<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> understand, measure, and improve access to arts, heritage, and cultural experiences<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s focused on identifying participation trends and barriers to equitable cultural opportunities in the county. The survey is one tool the agency uses to determine how it spends money from the county Lodging Tax and other revenue to support the \u201ccultural sector.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The survey takes about 9 minutes to complete and asks questions to determine how many outings include kids, or for which the main reason for going is to spend time as a family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>TAKE ACTION<\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">:<\/span> Help the county ensure arts and culture remain a high priority.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/survey.alchemer.com\/s3\/8654762\/4culture\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take the survey here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_108558\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 610px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-108558\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iStock-1469836229-e1771102006240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">United States Capitol building in Washington DC (Image: S. Greg Panosian)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><b>Murray and Cantwell announce federal budget wins for Washington kids and families<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those sneaky top Republicans and Democrats. According to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/10\/us\/politics\/congress-white-house-spending-law.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an article this week in the New York Times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they managed last week to work together and pass several bills that, together, make it harder for President Donald Trump and his administration to go around Congress when allocating federal funds. Washington Senator Patty Murray (D-Bothell) is one of those top Democrats who pushed for codifying the rules and funding levels the administration must abide by when allocating (or withholding) federal funds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with that win, Murray, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Edmonds), who is chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation\u00a0fannounced Washington projects of impact to kids and families that will receive federal dollars in 2026. Among the greater Seattle-area wins:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3.15 million to build affordable housing units in Seattle<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$3 million to Seattle Children&#8217;s Hospital for construction of a youth behavioral health crisis stabilization observation unit<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$800,000 for United Way King County to improve emergency food distribution system<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$1.5 million to the Seattle Indian Services Commission for the construction of affordable housing, early learning center, and a child care facility<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$300,000 to Seattle-based statewide<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pageahead.org\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Page Ahead Children\u2019s Literacy Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and its Book Up Summer program providing free books for kids and book discussion nights for families<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">More than $7 million to City of Seattle and groups like Renton&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.friendsofyouth.org\/\">Friends of Youth<\/a> in support of affordable housing<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2 million to support high school maritime education programs in Tacoma and Port Townsend<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$4.5 million to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sihb.org\/\">Seattle Indian Health Board<\/a> to build a health center<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$100,000 to <a href=\"https:\/\/ctckids.org\/\">Children&#8217;s Therapy Center<\/a> to support resource navigation services for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$6.2 million for the construction of a new early learning center in Bremerton\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$600,000 for the organization <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/opendoorswa.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open Doors for Multicultural Families<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in support of a new, early childhood education center at the Kent\/Des-Moines Light Rail site<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$850,000 to Edmonds to build a new food bank in a more convenient location,<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1.6 million <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seamar.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sea Mar Community Health Centers<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$2 million to Lake Forest Park toward construction of the Lakefront Park Community Center Project<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">$250,000 to the City of Federal Way for day care relocation and renovation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><b>Seattle and King County sync regarding protecting families from ICE aggression<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seattle\u2019s new Mayor, Katie Wilson, has already taken a tough stance on immigration enforcement agents in the City. Two weeks ago, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wilson.seattle.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2026\/02\/Executive-Order-2026-03-Prohibition-on-Staging-on-City-Property.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wilson ordered <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are barred from using city-owned property. She also committed $4 million in legal defense funds for residents facing immigration proceedings, opened a dedicated hotline where community members can report ICE activity, and instructed Seattle Police to document federal immigration enforcement actions occurring within city limits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The county\u2019s chief is right there with Wilson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last week, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay issued his <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/WAKING\/2026\/02\/12\/file_attachments\/3552983\/Protecting%20Immigrants%20and%20Refugees%20EO.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first executive order<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since taking office last year. In it, he too banned ICE from making arrests in non-public areas of county-owned buildings and properties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, like Wilson, Zahilay went further. He committed $2 million in emergency funding to help immigrant and refugee families access legal services, maintain their housing, and keep food on the table. The order also directs the King County Sheriff&#8217;s Office to outline how it responds to calls to 911 reporting immigration raids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEvery resident who calls King County home, regardless of their citizenship status, deserves safety, dignity, and to live without fear or intimidation,\u201d Executive Zahilay said in a release.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While immigrant families still live in fear of ICE aggression and arrest, city and county leadership and policies aimed at protecting them from aggressive and possibly illegal ICE tactics speak volumes. As Mayor Wilson recently put it, \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This moment demands action.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-108559\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-14-at-12.53.17%E2%80%AFPM-e1771102425686.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"396\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><b>Are people abusing the Public Records Act to hurt school districts?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bill moving through the Washington legislature seeks to find ways to discourage people from misusing the state\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/rcw\/default.aspx?cite=42.56\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Records Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to target school districts. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=2661&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HB 2661<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> addresses records requests that are \u201cfrivolous, retaliatory, or harassing\u201d and that place a heavy burden on school district resources and personnel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By driving up financial, legal, and operational strain\u2014especially when districts must respond to complex, high-volume requests tied to controversial issues and spend extensive staff time redacting and reviewing records\u2014these demands can pull resources away from classrooms and into compliance, heightening the tension between transparency and student privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amended form of the bill, which now goes to the full House of Representatives for a vote, requires the state\u2019s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to form a work group to research the impacts of records request abuse on school districts. The task force invitees will now be asked to join the work group.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">TAKE ACTION<\/span>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make your voice heard on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=2661&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HB 2661<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reach out to your representatives <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leg.wa.gov\/legislators\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the state House and Senate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_108560\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 610px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-108560\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iStock-2205514796-e1771102724532.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Physical therapist assisting baby with birth trauma in coordination exercise (Image: iStock.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><b>Lawmakers should not balance the budget on the backs of the state\u2019s most vulnerable kids | Op-Ed<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If passed by the state legislature this year<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=2688&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 2688<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">could result in a<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington that fails thousands of its most vulnerable residents\u2014babies and toddlers with disabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last week, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to move the proposal forward\u2014with one big, bill-turning change. Rather than increasing the budget for the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kingcounty.gov\/en\/dept\/dchs\/human-social-services\/programs-children-families\/early-support-infants-toddlers\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from $48 million to about $50 million a year by increasing its funding formula multiplier from 1.15 to 1.2<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amended bill sets the formula back to the 2008 multiplier level of 1.0. The program&#8217;s multiplier is the number the state uses to calculate how much money it provides for each baby or toddler receiving early intervention services. If the multiplier goes up, programs receive more money per child; if it goes down, they receive less.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The result of the amended bill would be tragic: fewer kids receiving critical early intervention services they need to thrive and significantly less money for school districts, which provide many of those services. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In King County, this means about 1,200 fewer children would have access to state-funded services to help them develop vital communication, motor, and basic survival skills (including eating). ESIT currently serves more than 7,000 infants and toddlers in the county with an array of diagnoses, among them Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hearing or vision loss, developmental delays, prematurity, severe illness, and autism spectrum disorder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are a parent with a disabled baby, this bill could mean the difference between your child receiving vital early intervention and not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, Washington is facing a $2.3 billion budget shortfall for the current biennium. Most children\u2019s programs should not expect increases when money is this tight\u2014even the most critical and impactful ones like ESIT. But neither should they become the back upon which a deficit is balanced. The amendment moved forward by the House Appropriations Committee doesn\u2019t kill HB 2688. It blunts its purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of strengthening special education funding, it goes backward, landing at a level below the status quo and leaving districts and families largely where they\u2019ve been for more than a decade: doing more with less.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=2688&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 2688<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been referred to the House Rules Committee before a vote by the full House. If approved it would need to pass the Senate before the session\u2019s closure March 12. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/hb-2688-esit-funding-cut-washington-op-ed\/\">Read this full opinion-editorial at Seattleschild.com<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">TAKE ACTION:<\/span> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make your voice heard on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary\/?BillNumber=2688&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HB 2688<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and its limitation of services for disabled infants and preschoolers. Reach out to your representatives <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leg.wa.gov\/legislators\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the state House and Senate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-108554 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/images.seattleschild.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-14-at-12.37.25%E2%80%AFPM-e1771101512488.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"400\" \/>More gloom on the way. Bring on the free flowers\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forecasters are calling for a wet week\u2014with alternating days of rain and potentially snow showers. In other words, dark, dreary, Seattle winter. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fryemuseum.org\/exhibitions\/wallflowers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frye Art Museum has just the fix: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWallflowers,\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a new exhibit centered on, well, flowers. In other words, bright, colorful, mostly cheery and a nod toward spring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the exhibit description, the installation of exhibit art was \u201cstructured to mimic the delights of navigating a cultivated garden [and] oscillates between discrete paintings and immersive patterns, between contemplation and exuberance.\u201d The show runs until the real buds start to emerge, that is, May 17. And it\u2019s absolutely FREE.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being a parent is nonstop hard work, making it challenging to stay on top of news that impacts families in Washington state. This Hits Home is your weekly hit of news, commentary, and, occasionally, opinion. Want to have a say? Look for the \u2018Take action\u2019 prompts. Here\u2019s the update for the week of Feb. 9-15.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1182,"featured_media":108562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,112,353,1022],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-news","category-take-action","category-whatparentsaretalkingabout"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.0 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Washington Political News for Families: Key updates this week<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This week: SPS highly capable program expands, The Reptile Zoo really closes, Trump explodes climate change protections,\" \/>\n<meta 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