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Education Ombuds Awareness SB5376

OEO is an independent state agency that helps to reduce educational opportunity gaps by supporting families, students, educators, and other stakeholders in communities across WA by sharing information about the K-12 public school system and resolving concerns collaboratively.  OEO services are free and confidential. Anyone can contact OEO with a question or concern about school.

OEO listens, shares information and referrals, and works informally with families, communities, and schools to address concerns so that every student can fully participate and thrive in our state’s public schools. OEO provides support in multiple languages and has telephone interpretation available. To get help or learn more about what OEO does, please visit our website: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en; email oeoinfo@gov.wa.gov, or call:  1-866-297-2597 (interpretation available).

OEO has many publications available on the OEO webpage, https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en/about-us/publications-and-resources-families, including new flyers in the following languages:

Education Ombuds Awareness SB 5376 was enacted in June of 2022, which requires schools to include information about the Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds in new student welcome packets and/or online. *(1) Beginning August 1, 2023, public schools must: 17 (a) Provide students and their parents or guardians with a description of the services available through the office of the education ombuds and the contact information for the office of the education ombuds at the time of initial enrollment or admission; and (b) Either: (i) Include on their website a description of the services available through the office of the education ombuds and a link to the website of the office of the education ombuds; or (ii) provide a description of the services available through the office of the education ombuds and the contact information for the office of the education ombuds in existing materials that are shared annually with families, students, and school employees, such as welcome packets, orientation guides, and newsletters.