H-0510.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1084

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Mulliken, Johnson, Koster, Backlund, Sump, Talcott, Crouse, Thompson, Mielke, Bush, Boldt, Benson, Sherstad, Carrell, Smith and Van Luven

Read first time 01/13/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Authorizing parents to inspect classroom materials.

    AN ACT Relating to authorizing parents to inspect classroom materials; 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) Upon the written request or personal appearance of a parent or legal guardian of a student, a public school shall make available for inspection by the parent or legal guardian, during school hours, any classroom instructional materials, including textbooks, teacher manuals, library books, films, videotapes, audio tapes, computer programs, supplementary materials, or any other materials associated with the education or instruction of the student by the school.  Materials physically located in the school must be made available within five working days of the request.  Materials within the school district must be made available within fourteen working days of the request.

    (2) A student may attend or participate in any public school-sponsored class, program, or activity that concerns suicide or euthanasia, or includes human sexuality issues dealing with sex education, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, or sexual orientation, if the school has on file a signed confirmation from the parent that the parent has received notification that the class, program, or activity concerns suicide or euthanasia, or includes human sexuality issues dealing with sex education, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, or sexual orientation and the parent approves of his or her child's participation in the specific class, program, or activity.  A school or school district may comply with the notification requirement in this section by notifying the parent at least once per school year of the planned classes, programs, or activities.

    (3) A parent may inspect all instructional materials including teachers' manuals, tapes, or other supplementary materials, or instructional materials that may be used by any guest speaker, in presenting any of the components of subsection (1) of this section.

    (4) Employees of a school district may not encourage a student to withhold materials or other information concerning classroom activities, tests, discussions, or programs from his or her parents.

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