Z-0649.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5543
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senators Kastama, McAuliffe, Eide, Regala, Rasmussen, Thibaudeau, Costa, Kohl‑Welles and Winsley; by request of Governor Locke and Superintendent of Public Instruction
Read first time 01/25/2001. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to school safety; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 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 a supportive learning environment enhances student academic achievement. A supportive learning environment is one that is safe, civil, healthy, and intellectually stimulating where students are engaged in learning and are committed to acquiring the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors to succeed in the twenty-first century.
The legislature intends to improve the student learning environment by helping school districts implement comprehensive safe school plans that assist schools in providing a safe learning environment.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:
(1) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, each local school board shall establish a policy requiring that each school in its district develop a written comprehensive safe school plan consistent with this section.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a comprehensive safe school plan is a school-based plan that includes prevention, intervention, all hazards and crisis response, and postcrisis recovery components developed to ensure the maintenance of a safe learning environment for students and adults. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop a comprehensive safe school plan model consistent with this section.
(3) When developing the plan, school personnel shall consider the school's physical plant, personnel, administrative policies and procedures, student and parent involvement, curriculum, instruction, and community agency partnerships.
(4) Schools are encouraged to include parents, teachers, students, school and other staff, and local fire, law enforcement, medical, and emergency management agencies in the development of the plan.
(5) The school district board of directors shall establish a process for approval of individual school plans. Plans shall be approved by September 1, 2002. Once approved, the school district shall develop a process to inform students, staff, volunteers, and parents about its comprehensive safe school plans.
(6) Each school shall annually conduct an evaluation of its comprehensive safe school plan and conduct reviews, drills, or simulated practices in coordination with local fire, law enforcement, medical, and emergency management agencies. Districts also shall annually provide information on the implementation and evaluation of the plans to parents and students.
(7) Each school shall maintain a copy of its comprehensive safe school plan and documentation of yearly reviews, drills, or simulated practices within the office of the school principal and shall make a copy of the report available for review upon written request.
(8) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide technical assistance to schools and school districts in the development of their comprehensive safe school plans.
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