Lynden School Board Announces Legislative Priorities

The Lynden School District’s Board of Directors submitted a list of 10 key legislative priorities to the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). The list sets a tone for the direction and focus the school district wants to see WSSDA take in the 2026 legislative year. 

Of the list, the highest priorities for the Lynden board includes:

• A focus on full funding of literacy instruction

• Enhanced funding for transitional bilingual education

• Ample funding for career and technical education 

As part of the WSSDA process, the Lynden School Board reviewed the updated legislative positions from the association. WSSDA asked boards across the state to submit an individually ranked list of their top 10 priorities. A combination of the priorities submitted from across the state gives WSSDA a direction for advocacy efforts in 2026. 

The focus on literacy encourages WSSDA to initiate or support legislation that provides ample and equitable funding for districts to adopt and implement evidence-based literacy acquisition practices, curriculum, screening and professional development across all grades.

Enhanced funding for transitional bilingual education aims to initiate or support the recommendations of the Quality Education Council for funding and instructional hour increases to bolster the hours of English language development instruction for students in English proficiency. The focus also provides up to eight instructional hours per week for qualifying students and additional funding to support language and academic support for additional bilingual students. 

The focus on career and technical education funding invites WSSDA to initiate or support legislative action to fully, amply and sustainably fund the programs, including within the Alternative Learning Environment framework, that support career and technical education. 

The other seven priorities listed by the Lynden School Board include:

• Full funding of basic education

• Support of transition to kindergarten programs

• Support for special education programs

• Support for multilingual learners

• Understanding and oversight of artificial intelligence technology

• Funding routes to get students to school safely

• Expansion of capital construction grant programs