[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to alternative educational service providers; amending RCW 28A.150.305 and 28A.305.170; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.150.305 and 1997 c 265 s 6 are each amended 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;

(d) Skills centers;

(e) The Washington national guard youth challenge program;

(f) Dropout prevention programs; or

((~~(f)~~)) (g) Other public or private organizations, excluding sectarian or religious organizations.

(2) Eligible students include students who are likely to be expelled or who are enrolled in the school district but have been suspended, are academically at risk, or who have been subject to repeated disciplinary actions due to behavioral problems.

(3) If a school district board of directors chooses to initiate specialized programs for students at risk of expulsion or who are failing academically by contracting out with alternative educational service providers identified in subsection (1) of this section, 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 legal guardian, and the alternative educational service provider.

(4) For the purpose of this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for reporting and documenting enrollment. Students may 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.

(5) The board of directors of school districts may require that students who would otherwise be suspended or expelled attend schools or programs listed in subsection (1) of this section as a condition of continued enrollment in the school district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:

Basic and nonbasic education funding, including applicable vocational entitlements and special education program money, generated under this chapter and under state appropriations acts shall be allocated directly to the national guard for a national guard youth challenge program for students earning high school graduation credit under RCW 28A.305.170. Funding shall be provided based on statewide average rates for basic education, special education, categorical, and block grant programs as determined by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The monthly full-time equivalent enrollment reported for students enrolled in the national guard youth challenge program shall be based on one full-time equivalent for every one hundred student hours of scheduled instruction eligible for high school graduation credit, and shall be based on the opening day enrollment information submitted by the program. The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the military department, shall adopt such guidelines as are necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.305.170 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 262 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In addition to any other powers and duties as provided by law, the state board of education shall adopt rules ((~~and regulations~~)) governing and authorizing the acceptance of national guard high school career training and the national guard youth challenge program in lieu of either required high school credits or elective high school credits.

(2) With the exception of students enrolled in the national guard youth challenge program, students enrolled in such national guard programs shall be considered enrolled in the common school last attended preceding enrollment in such national guard program.

(3) The board shall adopt rules to ensure that students who successfully complete the national guard youth challenge program are granted an appropriate number of high school credits, based on the students' levels of academic proficiency as measured by the program.