BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to learning materials support; adding a new section to chapter 28A.195 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature, in fulfilling its role as stated in the state Constitution, namely, that "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders...", finds that families with children enrolled in approved private schools are an integral part of fulfilling the state's educational mission.

The legislature recognizes that a significant percentage of students attend approved private schools. The parents of these children are subject to taxes and levies to fulfill the education provided through our common schools. In addition, these parents pay for student learning materials their child uses in the approved private school that would be free of additional charge in the common school. In acknowledgement of this additional burden and in recognizing the role of our state's approved private schools in helping to fulfill the constitutional mandate to provide education to our children, the legislature recognizes the need for equalization. The sole purpose of this act is to assist children, not schools.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.195 RCW to read as follows:

The state of Washington, through the office of the superintendent of public instruction or local school districts, shall reimburse parents or guardians of children enrolled in an approved private school for approved learning materials in accordance with the following guidelines:

(1) Learning materials support shall not be limited, in any way, based on a student's economic status.

(2) Learning materials support shall neither promote nor deter sectarian or religious activities of the private school.

(3) No approved private school may be required to participate in learning materials support provided by the state.

(4) Only students who attend state-approved private schools are eligible for learning materials support.

(5)(a) Only textbooks listed on the official adoption list of the state or local school district are eligible for learning materials support.

(b) Schools receiving learning materials support shall have the opportunity to submit annual requests of learning materials for adoption by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and/or local school district in which the private school is located.

(6) Learning materials eligible for support shall include, but not be limited to: Supplies, textbooks, workbooks, audio-visual aids, and technology made available, free of additional charge, for students in the state's public schools.

(7) Student learning materials designed for religious instruction shall not be eligible for reimbursement as part of learning materials support.

(8) No laws or rules may be added beyond those already in existence as of January 1, 1995, that have a direct or indirect impact on the autonomy of the private school as a result of the student's receipt of learning materials support.

(9) Annual per student learning material support shall not exceed the average per student expenditure for learning materials as reported by all public school districts to the superintendent of public instruction.

(10) Learning materials support reimbursements shall be made to the school, in the name of the child, as reported by the participating approved private school.

(11) To assist the state, the office of the superintendent of public instruction may identify currently existing, nonsectarian, state-wide private school organizations to serve as the liaison with the state for eligible participating private schools.

(12) Learning materials support reimbursement may not be claimed for the same item for more than the life of the material or its original purchase price. The annual reimbursement amount for nonconsumable learning materials shall not exceed twenty percent of the original cost of the approved learning material.

(13) Student learning materials shall, at all times, be considered the property of the state of Washington.

(14) Funds shall come from the state's allocation for the providing of state-wide K-12 basic education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act shall take effect September 1, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.