S-326                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3550

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Goltz, Conner, Stratton, Garrett, Benitz, Hayner, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Craswell, Metcalf, Lee and Barr

Read first time 2/4/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to home schools and unapproved church schools; adding a new section to chapter 28A.27 RCW; creating new sections; declaring an emergency; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that there has been a phenomenal  growth in the number of unapproved church schools and home schools in this state in recent years.  The compulsory attendance laws require parents of children of ages eight to fifteen to send their children to a public or approved private school or be subject to a fine of twenty-five dollars for each day of unexcused absence from school.  Parents who send their children to unapproved church schools or who teach their children at home are not exempt from the current compulsory attendance requirements. The legislature further finds that information on the nature and effectiveness of education in unapproved church schools and home schools is scarce.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.27 RCW to read as follows:

          From the effective date of this act until July 1, 1990, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to parents who teach their children at home or parents who send their children to an unapproved church school.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) A temporary commission on alternative educational opportunities is established to:

          (a) Study the number, teaching methods, and curriculums of unapproved church schools and home schools and their effectiveness in educating children;

          (b) Review laws and policies of other states with regard to unapproved church schools and home schools;

          (c) Study the history, purpose, and enforcement of compulsory attendance and its impact on truancy and on unapproved church schools and home schools; and

          (d) Review court decisions regarding unapproved church schools and home schools both in this state and other states.

          (2) The commission shall be composed of fifteen members as follows:

          (a) Four legislators with one from each caucus of each house appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives or the president of the senate as applicable;

          (b) The private education director of the office of the superintendent of public instruction;

          (c) The executive secretary of the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys; and

          (d) The following persons selected by the majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives:

          (i) A superintendent of a school district or principal of a public school;

          (ii) An administrator of an unapproved church school;

          (iii) Three parents whose children attend unapproved church schools; and

          (iv) Four parents who teach their children at home.

          (3) Nonlegislative members of the commission shall not receive compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed under RCW 44.04.120.

          (4) The members of the commission shall elect a member to serve as chairman and may adopt bylaws to govern the commission's proceedings.  The legislature shall provide staff and support services to the commission.

          (5) The commission shall report its findings to the legislature by January 1, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     This act shall expire July 1, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     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 immediately.