HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 HB  2912

Title:  An act relating to the learning materials loan program.

Brief Description:  Authorizing learning materials to be loaned to private school students.

Sponsors:  Representatives Quall, Talcott, B. Thomas and O'Brien.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 4, 1998.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background: Current law authorizes local school boards to set policies for the selection, granting, and loaning of instructional materials to public school students.  Districts also have the authority to enter into joint purchasing agreements with private schools.

Summary of Bill:  A local school district can loan learning materials to students who attend private schools in the district.  A private school desiring to borrow materials must submit an annual request for learning materials to the public school district in which the private school is located.  The school district must then provide the materials through a loan agreement and subject to certain guidelines:

<Districts cannot limit learning material support based on a student=s economic status, but may limit such loans to students of state-approved private schools.

<Loaned learning materials cannot promote or deter sectarian or religious activities of the private school.  A school district also cannot lend materials designed for religious instruction to the private school.

<Student learning materials eligible for loan must include, but are not limited to textbooks, workbooks, audio-visual aids, and technology made available free of additional charge to public school students.  However, private schools may not request loaned textbooks beyond the official adoption list of the local school district.

<The state cannot adopt new laws or rules that directly or indirectly impact the autonomy of a private school in response to a private school student receiving learning materials support.

<All loaned materials will remain the property of the state of Washington at all times.

<To assist the state, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction may identify currently existing, nonsectarian, statewide private school organizations to act as liaisons with the state for approved private schools whose students receive or desire to receive loaned learning materials.

Appropriation: $2,000,000

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 29, 1998.

Effective Date: September 1, 1998