Education Lab | The Seattle Times

A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is prepared on May 8, 2021, at the Denver School of Science and Technology Green Valley Ranch in Denver. The FDA’s authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot for 12- to 15-year-olds is a milestone in battling the coronavirus, but actually getting them vaccinated involves new challenges. (Kevin Mohatt/The New York Times)

Washington state won’t yet consider a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools

A COVID-19 vaccine is now authorized for emergency use in young teens and adolescents, but Washington will wait until the FDA fully approves a vaccine before considering whether to require it among schoolchildren.

Top Education Lab Stories

Seattle’s lack of school bus service leaves scores of students at home VIEW
Virtual schooling has been a challenge. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn anything from it.
Washington schools are carefully planning to welcome all students back to buildings this fall
UW says students need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by fall
Student Voices: Don’t forget about the in-betweens
Partially blind pilot plans to fly around the world, after some guidance from a Bellevue College program VIEW

About Education Lab

Education Lab is a project of the Seattle Times that spotlights promising approaches to persistent challenges in public education. Our team reports on issues like improving school discipline, parent education, math instruction and more. Our goal? To connect parents, students and educators to drive innovative solutions.

More about Education Lab

Shortcuts

Education Lab FAQ

Submit a Guest Column

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Funding

(Lauren Flannery / The Seattle Times)

Politics, race were key factors when Washington schools reopened for in-person learning during pandemic

Equity

A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is prepared on May 8, 2021, at the Denver School of Science and Technology Green Valley Ranch in Denver. The FDA’s authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot for 12- to 15-year-olds is a milestone in battling the coronavirus, but actually getting them vaccinated involves new challenges. (Kevin Mohatt/The New York Times)

Washington state won’t yet consider a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools

Teacher Diversity

Illustration by Jennifer Luxton / The Seattle Times

Why are 89% of Washington teachers white?

Higher Education

A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is prepared on May 8, 2021, at the Denver School of Science and Technology Green Valley Ranch in Denver. The FDA’s authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot for 12- to 15-year-olds is a milestone in battling the coronavirus, but actually getting them vaccinated involves new challenges. (Kevin Mohatt/The New York Times)

Washington state won’t yet consider a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools

Special Education

Everyone is struggling with remote learning — but it's been harder on these students

It’s hard to say exactly how foster youth are faring through the COVID-19 pandemic, but a new report offers an early glimpse. One major insight: The shift to distance learning was especially hard on foster youth.

Tools & Resources

Could you go to college tuition-free in Washington? Here’s how to find out

New law may make it easier for people to become teachers in Washington state

Special Education Glossary, Part 1

Special Education Glossary, Part 2

Three ways you can advocate for students with disabilities and special education in Washington state

Guest Essays

Charlotte “Charlie” Nunes is a junior at Woodinville High School and is enrolled in the Running Start program at Cascadia College.

Student Voices: Don’t forget about the in-betweens

Ignite Education Lab 2019

Speakers, from left, Noah Matisse, Kimberly Harden, Victoria Mott, Ricky Robertson, Tracy Castro-Gill, Kari O’Driscoll, Ryan Healy, Gillian Elliott, Raul Sanchez, Imani Razat, emcee Nathan Gibbs-Bowling, and Shannon Hitch are pictured during the Ignite Education Lab event at Seattle University, Monday, March 11, 2019 in Seattle.

Watch: 11 stories about teaching, learning and growth

Education Lab Interesting Questions

A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is prepared on May 8, 2021, at the Denver School of Science and Technology Green Valley Ranch in Denver. The FDA’s authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot for 12- to 15-year-olds is a milestone in battling the coronavirus, but actually getting them vaccinated involves new challenges. (Kevin Mohatt/The New York Times)

Washington state won’t yet consider a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools

Education Lab en español

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee speaks to students in Kelsey Voight’s second grade classroom at Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

216536

Ed Lab en español | Lo que es necesario saber sobre el regreso a las aulas en Washington después de un año de aprendizaje remoto

Discipline

Illinois stopped secluding and restraining students at school. Will other states follow suit?

Illinois lawmakers want federal officials to crack down on states that allow staff to seclude or restrain children at school.