Z-528                 _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 370

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Grimm, Betrozoff, P. King, Locke, Leonard, Isaacson, Hine, Ebersole and Wang; by Temporary Committee on Educational Policies, Structure and Management request

Read first time 1/30/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to preschool opportunities for disadvantaged children; adding a new section to chapter 28A.03 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Having found that preschool services are a positive factor in the educational experiences of disadvantaged students providing benefits to individuals and society at large, it is the intent of the legislature to provide for the educational needs of disadvantaged three and four year olds in the state through providing preschool services appropriate to their developmental needs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The superintendent of public instruction by rule shall establish and monitor standards for preschools to meet to be eligible for state approval.

          (2) The program of preschool services shall be designed to provide services to five thousand eligible children during the 1985-86 school year and serve at least one-half the eligible children by 1989 and be fully implemented to serve all eligible children by 1991.  Private preschools with approved programs are eligible to provide these services.

          (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a system to provide funds for eligible three and four year olds to attend state-approved preschool programs.  Children are eligible if their family income is at or below the level specified in official federal poverty guidelines.

          (4) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for administering the funds which may include a voucher system with the approved preschools being reimbursed upon returning properly authorized vouchers to the superintendent of public instruction and shall adopt rules establishing eligibility requirements.

          (5) The superintendent of public instruction shall study methods of accurately estimating the numbers of eligible children, where the children are located, cost projections, and the effectiveness of the program.  The superintendent of public instruction shall submit reports to the legislature by January of each odd-numbered year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of twenty-seven million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1985.