Subject of Possible Rule Making: The purpose of this rule making on chapters 180-51, 180-90, and 180-111 WAC is to establish an emergency waiver program to grant local education agencies and private schools flexibility in credit graduation requirements for the graduating class of 2020 in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The rule making would also allow flexibility from instructional hour or school day requirements for private schools for the 2019-20 school year. If the state board of education is granted further authorities by the legislature to create a waiver program for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for the 2020-21 school year or to respond to emergencies of various types including epidemics, the purpose of this rule making will also include establishment of a waiver program for providing flexibility during the closure of local educational agencies. The purpose includes a provision in WAC 180-90-114 to allow private schools to operate online programs without use of physical buildings if the emergency situation continues into the 2020-21 school year.

The purpose may include changes as necessary to align rule to current policy or practice, correct references to law, implement recently passed legislation, improve readability of the rule, or make other changes identified during the review.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making is in response to the school closures due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This waiver program is to grant local education agencies and private schools flexibility on credit graduation requirements for the graduating class of 2020. The rule making would also allow flexibility from instructional hour or school day requirements for private schools for the 2019-20 school year. The rule will also allow private schools to conduct online programs without use of a physical building if the emergency situation continues into the 2020-21 school year.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Parker Teed, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-6047, fax 360-753-6712, email parker.teed@k12.wa.us, website www.sbe.wa.gov.