WSR 13-22-032

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed October 30, 2013, 1:55 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Total instructional hour requirement.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 28A.150.220(2).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 180-16-200 provides for a total instructional hour requirement in grades 1-12 of a district-wide annual average one thousand hours. Chapter 548, Laws of 2009, amended the instructional hours requirement in RCW 28A.150.220 to one thousand hours in each of grades 1-6 and one thousand eighty hours in each of grades 7-12 according to an implementation schedule adopted by the legislature. Chapter 4, Laws of 2013 2nd sp. sess. implements this requirement beginning with the 2014-15 school year as an enhancement to the program of basic education. WAC 180-16-200 is not consistent with the statutory requirement. The statutory reference in subsection (2) of the WAC also no longer applies. The state board of education (SBE) can amend this WAC to make it consistent with the statutory requirement or repeal it as unnecessary.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI), which is responsible for basic education allocations to school districts. The SBE will consult with OSPI on this rule during the rule-making process.

Process for Developing New Rule: SBE will solicit comment on proposed rules from school district boards of directors, OSPI, education organizations, and other interested parties.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jack Archer, SBE, Old Capitol Building, P.O. Box 47206, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-6035, sbe@sbe.wa.gov.

October 30, 2013

Ben Rarick

Executive Director