H-0779.3  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1650

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Cairnes, Cole, O'Brien, Keiser, Blalock, Dickerson, Sullivan, Quall, Hickel, Mitchell and Delvin

Read first time 02/04/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Changing provisions relating to schools with special standards.

    AN ACT Relating to schools with special standards; and amending RCW 28A.320.140.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.320.140 and 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 612 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) School district boards of directors may establish schools or programs which parents may choose for their children to attend in which:  (a) Students are required to conform to dress and grooming codes, including requiring that students wear uniforms; (b) parents are required to participate in the student's education; or (c) discipline requirements are more stringent than in other schools in the district.

    (2) School district boards of directors may establish schools or programs in which:  (a) Students are required to conform to dress and grooming codes, including requiring that students wear uniforms; (b) parents are regularly counseled and encouraged to participate in the student's education; or (c) discipline requirements are more stringent than in other schools in the district.  School boards may require that students who are subject to suspension or expulsion attend these schools or programs as a condition of continued enrollment in the school district.

    (3) Parental participation requirements, as established under subsection (1)(b) of this section, may include, but are not limited to, a written commitment by the parent or guardian of the child to assist the child with his or her assignments, read to the child on a regular basis, or participate regularly in school-related activities.  If the school district board of directors adopts a parental participation requirement, the parental participation policy must also include options and a waiver for parents who are unable to participate.  The parental participation requirement shall not be a condition, explicit or implicit, to any student's participation in the school or program.  To the maximum extent possible, school districts' goals of racial and ethnic diversity must be achieved in all parental participation programs.

(4) If students are required to wear uniforms in these programs or schools, school districts shall accommodate students so that the uniform requirement is not an unfair barrier to school attendance and participation.

    (((4))) (5) Nothing in this section impairs or reduces in any manner whatsoever the authority of a board under other law to impose a dress and appearance code.  However, if a board requires uniforms under such other authority, it shall accommodate students so that the uniform requirement is not an unfair barrier to school attendance and participation.

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