H-1020.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1378
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Radcliff, H. Sommers, D. Sommers, Carlson, Johnson, Sump, Costa, Mitchell, Poulsen, Linville, Dunshee, Cooke, Mason, Keiser, Wood, Kenney and Kessler
Read first time 01/23/97. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to providing educational opportunities for students; amending RCW 28A.205.020 and 28A.205.080; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that school districts may wish to provide instructional programs to students who have been suspended or expelled, who are academically at risk, or who have been subject to disciplinary actions due to behavioral problems. These students have very different learning needs, and providing instruction to these students can be difficult for school districts. The legislature intends to create additional options for the education of children in the event of suspension, expulsion, poor academic performance, or behavioral problems, while meeting the state's constitutional obligation of providing basic education to all children.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The board of directors of school districts may contract with alternative educational service providers for eligible students. Alternative educational service providers that the school district may contract with include, but are not limited to:
(a) Other schools;
(b) Alternative education programs not operated by the school district;
(c) Education centers;
(d) Skill centers;
(e) Dropout prevention programs; or
(f) Other public or private organizations, excluding sectarian or religious organizations.
(2) Eligible students include students who have been expelled or who are enrolled in the school district but have been suspended, are academically at risk, or have been subject to disciplinary actions due to behavioral problems.
(3) The contract between the school district board of directors and the organization must specify the specific learning standards that students are expected to achieve. Placement of the student shall be jointly determined by the school district, the student's parent or guardian, and the alternative educational service provider.
(4) The school district shall receive the same level of funding from the state as if the student were enrolled in the school district's state-funded apportionment program. School districts may retain up to fifteen percent of the allocated funds for administrative purposes. To the extent that funds are not expended for educational services to eligible students under this section, funds shall lapse.
(5) For the purpose of this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to permit students to reenter at the grade level appropriate to the student's ability. Students who are sixteen years of age or older may take the GED test.
(6) The board of directors of school districts may require that students who are subject to suspension or expulsion attend schools or programs listed in subsection (1) of this section as a condition of continued enrollment in the school district.
Sec. 3. RCW 28A.205.020 and 1993 c 211 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
Only
eligible common school dropouts shall be enrolled in a certified education
center for reimbursement by the superintendent of public instruction as
provided in RCW 28A.205.040. ((No)) A person ((shall be
considered)) is not an eligible common school dropout ((who))
if: (1) The person has completed high school, (2) ((who))
the person has not reached his or her thirteenth birthday or has passed
his or her twentieth birthday, ((or)) (3) the person shows
proficiency beyond the high school level in a test approved by the
superintendent of public instruction to be given as part of the initial
diagnostic procedure, or (4) ((until)) less than one month has
passed after ((he or she)) the person has dropped out of any
common school and the education center has not received written
verification from a school official of the common school last attended in this
state that ((such)) the person is no longer in attendance at ((such))
the school((, unless such center has been requested to admit such
person by written communication of)). A person is an eligible common
school dropout even if one month has not passed since the person dropped out if
the board of directors or its designee, of that common school, ((or unless
such)) requests the center to admit the person because the person has
dropped out or because the person is unable to attend a particular common
school because of disciplinary reasons, including suspension and/or expulsion
((therefrom)). The fact that any person may be subject to RCW
28A.225.010 through 28A.225.150, 28A.200.010, and 28A.200.020 shall not affect
his or her qualifications as an eligible common school dropout under this
chapter.
Sec. 4. RCW 28A.205.080 and 1993 c 211 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
The legislature recognizes that education centers provide a necessary and effective service for students who have dropped out of common school programs. Education centers have demonstrated success in preparing such youth for productive roles in society and are an integral part of the state's program to address the needs of students who have dropped out of school. The superintendent of public instruction shall distribute funds, consistent with legislative appropriations, allocated specifically for education centers in accord with chapter 28A.205 RCW. The legislature encourages school districts to explore cooperation with education centers pursuant to section 2 of this act.
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