WA HB1663

Washington has the 9th highest school refusal rate nationally, with 30% of K-12 students missing more than 10% of the school year, and currently has only one school social worker per 3,798 students compared to the recommended ratio of 1:250

Expands the statutory definition of school social workers to include mental health counseling, crisis intervention, behavioral consultation, trauma-informed care, IEP development, and Section 504 plan implementation

Authorizes educational service districts to coordinate in-school placements for licensed social worker associates, masters of social work candidates, and post-masters social work professionals through partnerships with mental health agencies, universities, and behavioral health agencies

Adds 0.060 full-time equivalent school social worker staffing allocation for qualifying high-poverty schools (50%+ free/reduced-price meal eligibility) at elementary, middle, and high school levels

Amends educator recruitment provisions to include school social workers and adds coordination of social work training placements as a service educational service districts may provide to local districts