WSR 17-09-083

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed April 19, 2017, 9:53 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 392-121-122 Definition—Full-time equivalent student, 392-121-133 Definition—Annual average full-time equivalent students, 392-121-136 Limitation on enrollment counts, 392-121-137 Full-time equivalent enrollment of students with a disability, 392-122-225 Definition—State institutional education program—FTE students, 392-122-421 Full-day kindergarten program—Definition, and 392-169-057 Enrollment—Extent of combined high school and running start enrollment.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 28A.150.290.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The 2015-17 biennial budget (section 502 (1)(e)(ii)[)] requires the office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) to align agency rules defining a full-time equivalent (FTE) student to the state's increase in the minimum instructional hours for students. OSPI is accordingly proposing to revise the foregoing WAC to change the annual average FTE to one thousand hours and the FTE for all grades to twenty-seven hours, forty-five minutes weekly. OSPI proposed the rules go into effect at the start of the 2018-19 school year.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: WAC 392-169-005 requires joint agreement with OSPI, state board of [for] community and technical colleges, and Washington student achievement council on any revision to chapter 392-169 WAC. Both agencies will review the proposed change to WAC 392-169-057.

Process for Developing New Rule: Early solicitation of public comments and recommendations respecting new, amended, or repealed rules, and consideration of the comments and recommendations in the course of drafting rules.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Becky McLean, OSPI Enrollment Supervisor, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-6306, Becky.mclean@k12.wa.us.

April 10, 2017

Chris P. S. Reykdal

Superintendent of

Public Instruction