Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
SSB 5603
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. |
Brief Description: Concerning enrollment and course registration access for children of military families.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Randall, Wilson, C., Rolfes, O'Ban, Conway, Cleveland, Das, Zeiger, Hobbs, Kuderer and Nguyen).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/14/19
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:
Enrollment and Residency Requirements. A child's school and resident school district is generally based on where the student resides. School districts may require the child's parent or guardian provide proof of residence within the district, such as a utility bill, rental agreement, or property tax bill. School districts must enroll children with no regular, fixed residence, who live within the school district in a temporary shelter, institution, or place not ordinarily used as a residence and who are otherwise eligible for enrollment. School districts are prohibited from requiring proof of residence for children who do not have a legal residence, but are otherwise eligible for enrollment.
Military Compact. In 2009 Washington entered an interstate compact for the purpose of removing barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents. Two of the eight goals of the compact are to facilitate: (1) the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from the previous school districts or variations in entrance and age requirements; and (2) the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment. The compact does not address residency requirements.
The compact defines the following terms:
"Active duty" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and reserve on active duty orders pursuant to certain federal laws.
"Children of military families" means school-aged children, enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, in the household of an active duty member.
"Military installation" means a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense, including any leased facility, which is located within any of the several states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other United States territory. Such term does not include any facility used primarily for civil works, rivers and harbors projects, or flood control projects.
Summary of Bill:
Children of military families comply with the residency requirements for school attendance in a school district if their parent is transferred or pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order.
A school district must accept, on a conditional basis, applications for enrollment and course registration by electronic means for these children. The school district must finalize the children's enrollment after receiving proof of residence. Parents must provide proof of residence in the school district within 14 days after the published arrival date provided on official documentation. The following addresses may be used to establish proof of residence: a temporary on-base billeting facility; a purchased or leased home or apartment; or federal government or public-private venture off-base military housing.
Definitions. The bill defines the following terms:
"Active military duty" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and reserve on active duty orders.
"Children of military families" means school-aged children, enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, in the household of an active duty member.
"Military installation" means a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense or the United States Coast Guard.
"Parent" means the biological or adoptive parent or guardian of a dependent child.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.