WA SB5369

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 worker duties to explicitly include mental health counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, suicide risk assessment and treatment, behavioral consultation, and developing IEPs and Section 504 plans

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

Requires the Professional Educator Standards Board to adopt rules for placing social worker associates and graduate social work students in public school settings

Adds support for school social worker coordination efforts to the list of educator recruitment services that educational service districts may provide