There's a dangerous gap in Washington State's education system - one that leaves students vulnerable and allows misconduct to go unreported.

Under current Washington Law, only certificated K-12 school employees, such as teachers and administrators, are subject to mandatory reporting to the state when they engage in misconduct. However, coaches and other non-certificated staff are not held to the same standards. This means that even when a coach is removed from a position for inappropriate behavior, there is often no-state level record, no investigation, and no barrier preventing them from returning to work with students - sometimes at another school - or even the same one.

This loophole contributed directly to the case of Walter Junior Jones, a former volunteer coach at Garfield High School in Seattle who was placed on the district's "Do Not Rehire" list in 2008. Because he was not certificated, Seattle Public Schools was not required to report his removal to the Office of Professional Practices. He returned years later and was charged in 2021 with the rape of a student.

We cannot allow a system to exist where school staff are held to different standards based on their job titles - especially when all of them are working closely with students.

Signing this petition means calling Washington Lawmakers and Education Officials to:

Pass legislation requiring all public school (K-12) coaches to be certificated, regardless of whether they are paid or volunteer.

Mandate that misconduct by all school-affiliated adults - including non-certificated staff - is reported to the state, not just to district HR departments.

Increase transparency and accountability so parents, students, and communities are informed and protected.

This is not just about fixing a policy - it's about protecting children from preventable harm.

We believe that student safety should always be non-negotiable, and that every adult working with minors in our public schools should be held to the same legal and ethical standards. We need to take action now - before another student is failed by the system.