SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5837

                      As of March 3, 1997

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

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

Sponsors:  Senators Johnson, Hochstatter, Schow, Winsley, Roach and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/4/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Karen Carter (786-7424)

Background:  Current law authorizes local school boards to set policies for the selection, granting and loaning of instructional materials to public school students (see Chapter 28A.320.230 RCW).  Districts also have the authority to enter into joint purchasing agreements with private schools (see Chapter 28A.320.080 RCW).

An instructional materials committee, appointed by school board officers, makes recommendations to the board for its approval of student learning materials.  Districts may, within certain limits clearly stated in board policy, use and experiment with instructional materials for a period of time before general adoption is formalized.

Summary of Bill:  Legislative findings are made with respect to the state's duty, K-12 enrollments and the parents of students who attend approved private schools.  Laws governing private schools are expanded so that students attending state-approved private schools also may receive loaned learning materials.

To facilitate such loans, approved private schools must submit an annual request for learning materials on behalf of their interested students and enter into a loan agreement with the local school district in which the private school resides. The local school district must oblige that request subject to certain guidelines:

CDistricts cannot limit learning material support on the basis of a student's economic status, but may limit such loans to students of state-approved private schools.

CLoaned learning materials cannot promote nor deter sectarian or religious activities of the private school, nor may materials designed for religious instruction be requested of the district.

CStudent learning materials eligible for loan must include but are not limited to supplies, textbooks, workbooks, audio-visual aids and technology made freely available without charge to public school students. However, private schools may not request loaned textbooks beyond the official adoption list of the local school district.

At all times, learning materials loaned must be considered state property and a state general fund appropriation is made to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for the purposes of this act.

The superintendent is directed to adopt effective loan program guidelines.  To assist, OSPI 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 February 28, 1997.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on September 1, 1997.