SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1110

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to prohibiting advertising and marketing to students receiving home-based instruction.

Brief Description: Prohibiting advertising and marketing to students receiving home-based instruction and their parents.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Sullivan, Liias, Upthegrove, Orwall and Simpson).

Background: Under current law, parents whose children are receiving home-based instruction have the duty to, among other requirements, annually file with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction a signed declaration of intent that they are planning to provide home-based instruction to their children. Failure to comply with this requirement is treated as a failure to attend school without justification and triggers the same statutorily prescribed actions by the school district that it would take to address truancy.

Summary of Bill: School districts may not disseminate advertising, marketing, or other unsolicited information about learning programs offered by the school district to students or parents who have filed the statutorily-required declaration of intent regarding home-based instruction. "Learning programs" include, but are not limited to, digital learning programs, part-time enrollment opportunities, and other alternative learning programs. School districts may respond to parents' requests for information. General mailings or newsletters sent to all households in a district are not included in the prohibition.