H-3877.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2532

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Patterson, Stevens, Quall, Carrell, Cairnes, Kessler, D. Schmidt, Sheldon and Cooke

Read first time 01/12/96.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Addressing student uniform policies.

     AN ACT Relating to school uniform policy; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the wearing of uniforms by students can play a positive role in the public schools.  School uniforms can build student self-esteem and increase school pride, improve discipline and grades, and help focus student attention on education.  It is the intent of the legislature to encourage school districts to consider adopting district-wide school uniform policies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the Washington state school directors' association, state-wide organizations representing parents, and other interested organizations, shall gather and summarize existing research regarding uniforms and the effect of a student uniform policy on student discipline, grades, and other indicators of educational success.  This information shall be made available to school district boards of directors by December 1, 1996.

     (2) Each school district board of directors shall address the issue of whether the district should have a district-wide student uniform policy.  Parents shall be consulted in this deliberation and a public hearing shall be held before September 1, 1997.

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