S-1463.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6094

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Hochstatter and Stevens

Read first time 02/20/2001.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Requiring a notice form for parents seeking information on education alternatives.

    AN ACT Relating to information on education alternatives; 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:

    All school districts have a duty to advise each parent or guardian who has requested information on education alternatives of the differences between home-based education provided for in chapter 28A.200 RCW and all forms of alternative education provided for by law or rule.  The school district must provide each parent or guardian requesting information about home-based education or alternative education a document to be signed by the parent or guardian in substantially the following form:

INFORMED CONSENT REGARDING INSTRUCTION

Name of student: . . . . . . Identification: . . . . . .

Dear Parent or Guardian:

    You have inquired about education alternatives for your child.  You have a right to know by law that there are differences between home-based instruction and alternative education.

    Home-based education is governed by chapter 28A.200 RCW.  Chapter 28A.200 RCW recognizes that the parent has the responsibility for all educational decisions relating to philosophy or doctrine, selection of books, teaching materials, and curriculum, and methods, timing, and place for the provision or evaluation of home-based instruction.  Subject to certain annual standardized student testing requirements, excluding the Washington assessment of student learning, the parent is free to educate the parent's child as he or she sees fit.  The parent and the child receive no financial support from the state or the school district.  The school district does not receive credit for funding purposes for the child if the child receives home-based schooling.  The applicable statutes are set forth on the back of this form.

    The various alternative education programs are also governed by state law and rule.  There are different types of alternative education.  Although the parent can be part of his or her child's education, the school district, subject to state and federal law, is still in control of decisions regarding curriculum.  The school district also receives credit for your child's enrollment for the purpose of state funding.

I, parent or guardian, understand the difference between home-based education and alternative education and want my child to receive:

. . . Home-based schooling

. . . Alternative education through (name of school district)

DATED this . . . day of . . . . . ., year.

    . . . . . . . . . . 

    Parent or guardian

    The school district shall not receive any level of state funding for any student placed in alternative education under chapter 28A.150 RCW et seq. unless and until the district provides the signed consent form provided for in this section to the superintendent of public instruction.

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