SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5479

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1995

Title:  An act relating to clarifying transfers under the public school open enrollment program.

Brief Description:  Clarifying transfers under the public school open enrollment program with regard to home‑schooled and private school students.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Hochstatter and Oke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/9/95, 2/28/95 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/9/95, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5479 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pelz, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Gaspard, Hochstatter, Johnson and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

Background:  School districts may permit the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to regulate the conduct of interschool athletic and extracurricular activities.  The WIAA must submit its rules each year for the State Board of Education's approval.

The WIAA sets the eligibility requirements for participation in interscholastic activities.  Students who are receiving home-based instruction or attend approved private schools may participate in interscholastic activities in the school district where the student resides.  A full-time public school student, who transfers to a nonresident school district under the open enrollment laws, must wait one year before participating in interscholastic activities in the nonresident district.

Summary of Bill:  Students receiving home-based instruction may apply to transfer their registration to nonresident districts.  The nonresident district must consider all applications for admission equally, including those from students receiving home-based instruction.  Students receiving home-based instruction are deemed transfer students of the nonresident district.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This legislation would give students receiving home-based instruction the same opportunities as public school students have.

Testimony Against:  This legislation would give home-school and private school students special privileges.  Students could transfer just to participate in sports.  The Legislature should not attempt to manage the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.  Private schools do not want to be included.

Testified:  Senator Hargrove, prime sponsor (pro); Mike Colbrese, Stephen Dinger, Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (con); Walter Ball, AWSP (con); Dennis Dawes, WSSDA/Chehalis School District.