HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6447

                  As Passed House - Amended

                        March 1, 1994

Title:  An act relating to students transferring to other school districts.

Brief Description:  Adopting a formula for transmitting funds for transfer students.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senator Prince).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 25, 1994, DPA.

Passed House - Amended, March 1, 1994, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; B. Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  In 1990, legislation was enacted to increase students' and parents' options in choosing what school district students attended.  Under this "choice program," criteria were established when resident school districts were required to release students, and nonresident school districts were required to adopt policies about accepting out-of-district students.  According to a recent report from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1.5 percent of the student population, or 14,000 students, chose to attend schools in districts in which they did not live.

Under the 1990 legislation, school districts could require the parents of nonresident students to pay transfer fees or tuition.  In 1993, legislation was enacted prohibiting the charge of transfer fees or tuition.

Summary of Bill:  State statute is amended to make it clear that school districts may reject requests from nonresident students to transfer into the district if the transfer would result in an economic hardship on the district.

The House and Senate Education Committees are directed to analyze issues relating to transfer fees for educational "choice" students, and are to report to the Legislature prior to the 1995 legislative session.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Under the "choice" legislation, school districts do not have the ability to reject nonresident students if the district has the physical capacity to accommodate the students.  This has created a financial hardship for some districts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Prince.