HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1877

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to providing additional educational opportunities for students.

Brief Description:  Providing additional educational opportunities for students.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMahan, Brumsickle, Benton, Sheahan, Koster, Elliot, Pelesky, Johnson, Stevens, Casada, Silver and Thompson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  2/21/95, 2/24/95 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Elliot, Vice Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Clements; Fuhrman; McMahan; Pelesky; Radcliff; Smith; Talcott; B. Thomas and Thompson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Poulsen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dickerson; G. Fisher; Hatfield; Quall and Veloria.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  School districts are required to provide instructional programs to a wide variety of children with very different learning needs.  Providing instruction to this wide range of students can be very difficult for school districts.  This is recognized in special education statutes, which clearly allow school districts to contract with other organizations to provide instructional services for special education students.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A school board may contract with nonsectarian schools and organizations to provide educational services for district students, including, but not limited to, students who have been suspended or expelled, who are academically at risk, or who have been subject to disciplinary actions due to behavioral problems.

The contract must specify the specific learning standards that students are expected to achieve.

The school district is to receive the same level of funding from the state as if the student were enrolled in the school district's educational program.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is directed to provide school districts maximum flexibility when establishing funding criteria for students enrolled in these programs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute clarifies that academically at risk students and other students may be served in these programs.  A provision was added that requires the contract to include specific learning standards that are expected of students.  An additional provision was added that directs SPI to provide maximum flexibility when establishing funding criteria for students enrolled in these programs.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 15, 1995.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation will give school districts additional options when dealing with disruptive students.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative McMahan, prime sponsor (pro); Lloyd Gardner, citizen (pro); and Lynn Harsh, Evergreen Freedom Foundation (pro, with concerns).