HB 2409-S - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

     Establishes the Washington character education partnership program.  The purpose of the program is to assist public schools in their efforts to design and implement character education programs developed in partnership with parents and the schools' local communities.

     Provides that, subject to funding appropriated by the legislature for the character education partnership program, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall design and implement a competitive grant program to provide character education partnership  grants of up to twenty-five thousand dollars each to schools, school districts, or educational service districts applying on behalf of two or more schools or school districts.

     Provides that each school district is strongly encouraged to develop and implement a character education program that incorporates into its curriculum the character traits and values included in RCW 28A.150.211(1).  Each school district is also strongly encouraged to  develop its character education program in partnership with parents and the entire spectrum of stakeholders in its local community.

     Provides that, subject to legislative funding, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide to each school district that develops and implements a character education program in partnership with parents and the entire spectrum of stakeholders in its local community, under the provisions of RCW 28A.150.211, an amount for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, of one dollar per full-time equivalent elementary school student, however, each district shall receive at least two hundred dollars for each elementary school operated by the district.

     Requires that a school district that receives funding in accordance with this section shall certify to the superintendent of public instruction that funds received were expended for the purposes of this act.