S-3366

AN ACT Relating to compulsory school education; amending RCW 28A.225.020, 28A.225.030, 28A.225.090, and 28A.225.150; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.225 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.225 RCW to read as follows:

Each school within a school district shall inform the students and the parents of the students enrolled in the school about the compulsory education requirements under this chapter. The school shall distribute the information at least annually.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.225.020 and 1986 c 132 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

If a juvenile required to attend school under the laws of the state of Washington fails to attend school without valid justification ((~~recurrently or for an extended period of time~~)), the juvenile's school((~~, where appropriate,~~)) shall:

(1) Inform the juvenile's custodial parent, parents or guardian by a notice in writing in English and, if different, in the primary language of the custodial parent, parents or guardian and by other means reasonably necessary to achieve notice of the fact that the juvenile has failed to attend school without valid justification ((~~recurrently or for an extended period of time~~)) after one unexcused absence;

(2) Schedule a conference or conferences with the custodial parent, parents or guardian and juvenile at a time and place reasonably convenient for all persons included for the purpose of analyzing the causes of the juvenile's absences after two unexcused absences; and

(3) Take steps to eliminate or reduce the juvenile's absences. These steps shall include, where appropriate, adjusting the juvenile's school program or school or course assignment, providing more individualized or remedial instruction, preparing the juvenile for employment with specific vocational courses or work experience, or both, and assisting the parent or student to obtain supplementary services that might eliminate or ameliorate the cause or causes for the absence from school.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.225.030 and 1990 c 33 s 220 are each amended to read as follows:

If action taken by a school pursuant to RCW 28A.225.020 is not successful in substantially reducing a student's absences from school, any of the following actions may be taken after five or more unexcused absences: (1) The attendance officer of the school district through its attorney may petition the juvenile court to assume jurisdiction under RCW 28A.200.010, 28A.200.020, and 28A.225.010 through 28A.225.150 for the purpose of alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent; or (2) a petition alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by a child may be filed with the juvenile court by the parent of such child or by the attendance officer of the school district through its attorney at the request of the parent. If the court assumes jurisdiction in such an instance, the provisions of RCW 28A.200.010, 28A.200.020, and 28A.225.010 through 28A.225.150, except where otherwise stated, shall apply.

Sec. 4. RCW 28A.225.090 and 1990 c 33 s 226 are each amended to read as follows:

Any person violating any of the provisions of either RCW 28A.225.010 or 28A.225.080 shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars for each day of unexcused absence from school. However, a child found to be in violation of RCW 28A.225.010 shall be required to attend school and shall not be fined. If the child fails to comply with the court order to attend school, the court may order the child be punished by detention or may impose alternatives to detention such as community service hours or participation in dropout prevention programs. Failure by a child to comply with an order issued under this section shall not be punishable by detention for a period greater than that permitted pursuant to a contempt proceeding against a child under chapter 13.32A RCW. It shall be a defense for a parent charged with violating RCW 28A.225.010 to show that he or she exercised reasonable diligence in attempting to cause a child in his or her custody to attend school or that the juvenile's school did not perform its duties as required in RCW 28A.225.020. Any fine imposed pursuant to this section may be suspended upon the condition that a parent charged with violating RCW 28A.225.010 shall participate with the school and the juvenile in a supervised plan for the juvenile's attendance at school or upon condition that the parent attend a conference or conferences scheduled by a school for the purpose of analyzing the causes of a child's absence.

Attendance officers shall make complaint for violation of the provisions of RCW 28A.225.010 through 28A.225.140 to a judge of the superior or district court.

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.225.150 and 1990 c 33 s 232 are each amended to read as follows:

The school district attendance officer shall report biannually to the educational service district superintendent, in the instance of petitions filed alleging a violation by a child under RCW 28A.225.030:

(1) The number of petitions filed by a school district or by a parent;

(2) The frequency of each action taken under RCW 28A.225.020 prior to the filing of such petition;

(3) When deemed appropriate under RCW 28A.225.020, the frequency of delivery of supplemental services; and

(4) Disposition of cases filed with the juvenile court, including the frequency of contempt orders issued to enforce a court's order under RCW 28A.225.090.

The educational service district superintendent shall compile such information and report annually to the superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent of public instruction shall compile such information and report to the committees of the house of representatives and the senate by ((~~January 1, 1988~~)) September 1 of each year.