Carleen Johnson

Carleen Johnson is The Center Square’s Washington state government reporter. She has 30 years of experience in broadcast journalism in the Puget Sound region, including being a traffic reporter…

Government
Parents’ bill of rights initiative moves ahead in Washington State Legislature

(The Center Square) – A “parents’ bill of rights” initiative to the Legislature passed out of two legislative committees in Olympia on Friday morning.  Initiative 2081 would require… Read More

March 4, 2024
Government
WA Legislature passes bill giving state Superintendent final say in sex, gender and race curricula

(The Center Square) – A bill that gives Washington state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction ultimate authority when it comes to school district materials on sex education and race- and gender-based teaching… Read More

February 26, 2024
Government
Bill tying school funding to controversial curriculum materials moves forward in Washington

(The Center Square) – Legislation that would allow the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction to cut state funding for certain school districts is moving ahead in the form of … Read More

February 8, 2024
Government
Washington legislation would ban student cell phones in most cases

(The Center Square) – Some Washington public school districts have already done it, but a bill being considered in Olympia this week would ban cell phones  for students during the school day… Read More

January 23, 2024
Government
‘Build a better case,’ say critics of bill to lower Washington’s school bond election threshold

(The Center Square) – Some lawmakers in Washington state want to lower the bar to pass school bonds in elections. House Bill 1843 proposes an amendment to… Read More

January 17, 2024