H-3936.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2220

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Elliot, Schoesler, Hickel, Thompson, McMorris and McMahan

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Providing schools with the flexibility to waive laws, rules, and district policies.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing schools to receive waivers from state laws, rules, and school district policies and procedures; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:

      (1) The board of directors of each school district may grant waivers, or partial waivers, of state laws and rules and of school district policies and procedures to schools within the district in accordance with this section.

     (2) To apply for waivers, a school principal, in consultation with school staff and parents, shall prepare an application to the board of directors that identifies which laws, rules, policies, and procedures are being requested to be waived and the rationale for requesting the waivers.

     (3) The school board shall provide for public review and comment regarding the waiver request.

     (4) The duration, renewal, and recision of the waivers shall be determined by the school district board of directors.

     (5) The following may not be waived:

     (a) Laws and rules pertaining to health, safety, and civil rights;

     (b) The assessment, accountability, and reporting requirements in RCW 28A.230.190, the fourth grade standardized test; RCW 28A.230.230, the eighth grade standardized test; RCW 28A.230.240, the eleventh grade standardized test; RCW 28A.630.885, assessment requirements; and RCW 28A.320.205, the annual performance report; and

     (c) State and federal financial reporting and auditing requirements.

     (6) The granting of waivers by school district boards of directors as authorized in this section shall not be subject to collective bargaining.

     (7) School district boards of directors shall notify the state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction in writing of laws, rules, and school district policies and procedures that have been waived in accordance with this section.  The notification shall be transmitted to the state board of education and the superintendent within thirty days of granting the waivers.  The state board and superintendent shall report to the legislature by December 1, 1999, of the laws, rules, policies, and procedures that have been waived in accordance with this section.

                                    --- END ---