Superintendent of Public Instruction Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

What It Takes To Open Washington Schools During The Pandemic

By NWPB News January 15, 2021

Paraeducators Jerilie Biery, left, and Nadia Ulyanchuk, right, administer required health check-ins with students before school starts at Chief Moses Middle School on Jan. 11, 2020. CREDIT: Dorothy Edwards/Crosscut

As school districts across the state scramble to transition their classrooms safely from the online world back to the real world, they may benefit from the advice of the dozens of Washington districts that welcomed students back into their halls this past fall.Read More

Jay Inslee Urges Washington Schools To Consider Bringing Back More Students

By Doug Nadvornick December 17, 2020

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is encouraging schools in low and moderate spread counties to send more students back to school. CREDIT: TVW screenshot

“There really is relatively small additional risk if you have good safety and health protocols," the governor said Wednesday. "We see it as our task to make sure that when our students go back, when our educators go back that we follow these sound practices of health and safety protocols to keep people safe. When we do that, we now have both that scientific data I’ve just Read More

COVID Response, Sex Education Bill Define Race For Washington Superintendent Of Public Instruction

By NWPB News October 14, 2020

Maia Espinoza, a candidate for Washington state superintendent of public instruction, is shown at left in an undated photo taken by Monica Marchetti and provided by her campaign. Espinoza is challenging incumbent state superintendent Chris Reykdal, right, shown in an AP photo taken Oct. 2, 2020, in Olympia, Wash., in the upcoming November election.

The coronavirus pandemic and a controversial sex education mandate are casting a shadow over the race for Washington state education chief in the November election.Read More

Candidate For Washington Schools Superintendent Clarifies Her Organization’s Nonprofit Status

By NWPB News September 23, 2020

Maia Espinoza is running for the position of Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction against incumbent Chris Reykdal. Courtesy of the Maia Espinoza campaign.

Maia Espinoza, who is challenging incumbent Chris Reykdal in the November election to become the state superintendent of public instruction, made the clarification Wednesday after repeated inquiries from The Associated Press.Read More

Washington, Idaho Outline Different Approaches For Schools; Moscow Goes Hybrid, Delays Start

By NWPB News August 5, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced new guidance for school district on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. CREDIT: TVW

Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday that schools in the majority of Washington’s counties should strongly consider online-only learning for students this fall due to COVID-19 and canceling or postponing sports and all other in-person extracurricular activities. In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little is urging schools to reopen where it's deemed safe.Read More

Jay Inslee: Some K-12 Schools Won’t Fully Reopen This Fall, With More Guidance Coming Soon

By NWPB News July 30, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee gave an update Thursday, July 30, 2020 on the state's coronavirus response. CREDIT: TVW

In recent days, health officers in Snohomish and Thurston counties have recommended against reopening school buildings this fall. And some districts, including the Olympia district, have already announced they will stick with remote learning for now. Read More

Washington Extends K-12 School Closure Through June; So Does Idaho (With Big Caveats)

By NWPB News April 6, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday that all Washington K-12 schools would remain closed for the rest of the current school year. CREDIT: TVW/Screenshot

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday that all Washington K-12 schools will remain closed for the remainder of this school year and will shift to a distance learning model.Read More