S-3590               _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6156

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

 

By Senators Bailey and Craswell

 

 

Read first time 1/13/88 and referred to Committee on Education.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to the self-study process by school districts; and amending RCW 28A.58.085.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 349, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28A.58.085 are each amended to read as follows:

          Each school district board of directors shall develop a schedule and process by which each public school within its jurisdiction shall undertake self-study procedures on a regular basis:  PROVIDED, That districts may allow two or more elementary school buildings in the district to undertake jointly the self-study process.  Each school may follow the accreditation process developed by the state board of education under RCW 28A.04.120(((4))) (6), although no school is required to file for actual accreditation, or the school may follow a self-study process developed locally.  Whatever process is used must focus upon the quality and appropriateness of the school's educational program and the results of its operational efforts.

          Any self-study process must include the participation of staff, parents, members of the community, and students, where appropriate to their age.

          Emphasis throughout the process shall be placed upon:

          (1) Achieving educational excellence and equity;

          (2) Building stronger links with the community; and

          (3) Reaching consensus upon educational expectations through community involvement and corresponding school management.

          The initial self-study process within each district shall begin by September 1, 1986, and should be completed for all schools within a district by the end of the 1990-91 school year.

          The state board of education shall develop rules and regulations governing procedural criteria.  Such rules and regulations should be flexible so as to accommodate local goals and circumstances.  Rules and regulations may allow for waiver of the self-study for economic reasons and may also allow for waiver of the initial self-study if a district or its schools have participated successfully in an official accreditation process or in a similar assessment of educational programs within the last three years.  The self-study process shall be conducted on a cyclical basis every seven years following the initial 1990-91 period.

          The superintendent of public instruction shall provide training to assist districts in their self-studies.

          Each district shall ((annually)) report every two years to the superintendent of public instruction on the scheduling and implementation of their self-study activities.