PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed September 16, 2020, 4:27 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 392-700-015 definition of "attendance period requirement" for open doors high school reengagement programs.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 28A.175.100.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current permanent rule governing high school reengagement programs, WAC 392-700-015, requires a minimum two hours a month of "face-to-face" program staff interaction with each student. A rule amendment is necessary to provide clarification regarding acceptable "face-to-face" engagements when a reengagement program is being administered in remote learning environments made necessary by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Since in-person interaction is not feasible for all students participating in remote learning, the proposed amendment is needed to ensure students will be able to access services through different means of contact in the 2020-21 school year.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Early solicitation of feedback and recommendations respecting new or amended 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 Katherine Mahoney, OSPI, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-6033, TTY 360-664-3631, email Katherine.mahoney@k12.wa.us, website k12.wa.us.

State Superintendent of