Newhouse Sponsoring Bill to Keep Kids in the Classroom

4th District Representative Dan Newhouse is voicing his frustration at the significant fall in Washington students' test scores, while also providing a possible solution.

According to Newhouse's office, between 2019 and 2021, students who met state standards in math fell by 20 percentage points, while students who met the standard in English fell by 9 percentage points.

Newhouse puts the blame on all the virtual learning students have had to go through over the last couple of years. The Sunnyside Republican called the impact of virtual instruction "alarming" and said it was proof that nothing replaces in-person learning from a teacher.

As a response to the perceived impacts of virtual instruction, Newhouse has cosponsored the Open Schools Act.

Newhouse said the bill would provide up to $10,000 federal education grants to students if their school closes to in-person learning.

"Whether it's a private school, or traveling to a school district that's offering in-person instruction, or whatever other alternatives they may have this gives (students) some financial help to accomplish that," explained Newhouse.

The grants would come out the $334 million in American Rescue Plan funds previously sent to Washington State to combat learning loss, of which only 7% has been used.

The full legislation can be found here.