H-2989.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2094

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Chappell, Brumsickle, Mastin, Regala, Elliot, Basich, Radcliff, Hankins, Morris, Kessler, Mitchell, Costa, Huff, Clements, Grant, G. Fisher, Romero, Quall, Hatfield, L. Thomas, Mason and Blanton

Read first time 04/13/95.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Requiring a handbook pertaining to parents' rights and responsibilities with regard to public education.

    AN ACT Relating to providing parents with information on existing law as it pertains to the rights and responsibilities of parents in education; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that parents have a compelling interest in protecting the well-being of their children, and in directing their children's upbringing and education.  The legislature also finds that many parents are not aware of the complex laws that surround education, and it is in the best interest of the state and school districts that parents be informed of their rights and responsibilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

    The superintendent of public instruction shall annually prepare, publish, and distribute a handbook for parents that includes the text and an explanation of all state statutes and rules pertaining to the rights and responsibilities of parents in the education of their children in the public school system.  The handbook shall include, but not be limited to, text and explanations of laws regarding compulsory attendance, inspection of instructional materials, classroom visitation, the process for withdrawing children from classes, and other related topics.  The explanations shall be written in a style that will be understandable to parents.  Copies of the handbook shall be distributed to school districts annually by August 1st.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:

    Each school district shall distribute annually to all parents at the beginning of the school year the parent's rights and responsibilities handbook under section 2 of this act and an explanation and text of all school district policies pertaining to the rights and responsibilities of parents in the education of their children in the school district.

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