Brief Description: Providing schools information they need regarding who has legal custody, care, or control of students for purposes of providing notice.

Sponsors: Representatives Shabro, Quall, Priest, Haler, Jarrett, Tom, Cox, Anderson, Wallace, Curtis, Talcott, Morrell, Rodne, Moeller, Schual-Berke and P. Sullivan.

Hearing Date: 1/25/06

Staff: Kara Durbin (786-7133).

Background:

Under Washington law, divorcing couples with children must establish a parenting plan. The parenting plan must include: (1) a dispute resolution process for handling disagreements between the parents; (2) an allocation of decision-making authority to one or both parents for each child's education, health care and religious training; and (3) a schedule of when each child is to reside with each parent. 

There are no state laws or rules that specify how schools involve parents in decision-making. School districts generally adopt their own policies regarding how to notify parents and involve them in decisions regarding their children.

Summary of Bill:

In a dissolution, legal separation, or other custody or visitation-related proceeding, the court clerk must send to the OSPI a copy of that portion of the court order that describes the person or persons who have legal custody, care, or control of a child under a court order. The OSPI must then forward the information to the Superintendent of the school district in which the child is registered. The Superintendent of the school district, in turn, must provide that information to the principal of the school where the child is attending.

If a matter arises for which notice is usually required, such as notice of meetings, trips, tests, grades, or disciplinary actions, the school must provide notice to the person or persons indicated in the court order as having legal custody, care, or control of the child.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.