Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
ESB 5175
Brief Description: Concerning written contracts between school boards and principals.
Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Mullet, Hunt and Wilson, C..
Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill
  • Extends the maximum duration of a school principal's contract from one to three years, provided the principal has satisfied records check requirements through systems of the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hearing Date: 3/21/23
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:

The employment of teachers, principals, supervisors, superintendents, and other certificated employees by a school district must be formalized through written order of a majority of the district's directors at a public meeting and a written contract between the board of directors and the employee.  The term of employment for the contract may not exceed one year.
 
School districts and other education entities and their contractors must require a record check through the Washington State Patrol criminal identification system and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's criminal justice information systems before hiring an employee that will:

  • have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children or persons with developmental disabilities; or
  • receive criminal history record information or personally identifiable information from record checks of other persons.
Summary of Bill:

The maximum term of a written contract made by a school district board of directors with a principal is extended from one to three years and is contingent upon the successful completion of an updated record check.  A contract made by a board with a principal for a term of three years may not be renewed before the final year of the contract.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.