S-2462               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 3294

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Fleming, Wojahn and McManus)

Read first time 3/8/85.

AN ACT Relating to education; creating new sections; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that education enhances each person's chances of becoming a productive member of society.  The legislature further recognizes that the problems of students who are suspended for long periods, who are expelled, or who drop out of school are pervasive and that these students' chances of obtaining gainful employment are limited.  The legislature declares its intent to support the development of an exemplary target program aimed at preventing students from dropping out of school, being suspended for long periods, or being expelled.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The superintendent of public instruction shall undertake the study in section 3 of this act.  In conducting the study the superintendent shall seek the advice and assistance of school district and school building administrators, teachers, parents, students, business representatives, citizens expressing an interest in dropout-related issues, and others as the superintendent may deem appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall undertake a comprehensive, state-wide study to:

          (a) Analyze the reasons and issues relating to the problems of long-term student suspensions, student expulsions, and students dropping out of school;

          (b) Identify characteristics of students considered to be at high risk of being expelled, suspended for long terms, or of dropping out of school; and

          (c) Identify and evaluate state, local, and business community services available for students at high risk of being expelled, suspended for long terms, or of dropping out of school.

          (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall, upon completion of the study in subsection (1) of this section, develop and recommend to the legislature a plan to implement a pilot high-risk student program to prevent and reduce the number of students being expelled, suspended for long terms, or dropping out of school.  The plan shall include provisions for selecting school districts to participate in the program.  The plan shall also include cost analyses for implementing the program based on different numbers of districts participating and factors relating to school district size.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The superintendent of public instruction shall submit the findings of the study and the recommended plan for a pilot high-risk student program to the legislature not later than January 1, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall expire January 1, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     There is hereby appropriated from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the 1985-87 biennium the sum of forty-nine thousand five hundred dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary to begin to carry out the purposes of this act.