READ FIRST TIME 02/08/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to education; amending RCW 28A.300.130; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that expanding activity in educational research, educational restructuring, and educational improvement initiatives has produced and continues to produce much valuable information. The legislature finds that such information should be shared with the citizens and educational community of the state as widely as possible. The legislature further finds that students and schools benefit from increased parental, guardian, and community involvement in education and increased knowledge of and input regarding the delivery of public education. The legislature further finds that increased community involvement with, knowledge of, and input regarding the public education system is particularly needed in low-income and ethnic minority communities.
     The legislature finds that the center for the improvement of student learning, created by the legislature in 1993 under the auspices of the superintendent of public instruction, has not been allocated funding since the 2001-2003 biennium, and in effect no longer exists. It is the intent of the legislature to reactivate the center for the improvement of student learning, and to create an educational ombudsman to increase parent, guardian, and community involvement in public education and to serve as a resource for parents and students and as an advocate for students in the public education system.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.300.130 and 1999 c 388 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Expanding activity in educational research, educational restructuring, and educational improvement initiatives has produced and continues to produce much valuable information. The legislature finds that such information should be shared with the citizens and educational community of the state as widely as possible.)) To facilitate access to information and materials on educational improvement and research, the superintendent of public instruction, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall establish the center for the improvement of student learning. ((The primary purpose of the center is to provide assistance and advice to parents, school board members, educators, and the public regarding strategies for assisting students in learning the essential academic learning requirements pursuant to RCW 28A.630.885.)) The center shall work in conjunction with ((the academic achievement and accountability commission)) parents, educational service districts, institutions of higher education, and education, parent, community, and business organizations.
     (2) The center, in conjunction with other staff in the office of the superintendent of public instruction, shall:
     (a) ((Serve as a clearinghouse for the completed work and activities of the academic achievement and accountability commission;
     (b))) Serve as a clearinghouse for information regarding successful educational improvement and parental involvement programs in schools and districts, and information about efforts within institutions of higher education in the state to support educational improvement initiatives in Washington schools and districts;
     (((c))) (b) Provide best practices research ((and advice)) that can be used to help schools develop and implement: Programs and practices to improve instruction ((of the essential academic learning requirements under section 701 of this act)); systems to analyze student assessment data, with an emphasis on systems that will combine the use of state and local data to monitor the academic progress of each and every student in the school district; comprehensive, school-wide improvement plans; school-based shared decision-making models; programs to promote lifelong learning and community involvement in education; school-to-work transition programs; programs to meet the needs of highly capable students; programs and practices to meet the diverse needs of students based on gender, racial, ethnic, economic, and special needs status; research, information, and technology systems; and other programs and practices that will assist educators in helping students learn the essential academic learning requirements;
     (((d) Develop and distribute, in conjunction with the academic achievement and accountability commission, parental involvement materials, including instructional guides developed to inform parents of the essential academic learning requirements. The instructional guides also shall contain actions parents may take to assist their children in meeting the requirements, and should focus on reaching parents who have not previously been involved with their children's education;
     (e) Identify obstacles to greater parent and community involvement in school shared decision-making processes and recommend strategies for helping parents and community members to participate effectively in school shared decision-making processes, including understanding and respecting the roles of school building administrators and staff;
     (f))) (c) Develop and maintain an internet web site to increase the availability of information, research, and other materials;
     (((g) Take other actions to increase public awareness of the importance of parental and community involvement in education;
     (h))) (d) Work with appropriate organizations to inform teachers, district and school administrators, and school directors about the waivers available and the broadened school board powers under RCW 28A.320.015;
     (((i))) (e) Provide training and consultation services, including conducting regional summer institutes;
     (((j) Address methods for improving the success rates of certain ethnic and racial student groups)) (f) Identify strategies for improving the success rates of ethnic and racial student groups with disproportionate academic achievement;
     (g) Work with parents, teachers, and school districts in establishing a model absentee notification procedure that will properly notify parents when their student has not attended a class or has missed a school day. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall consider various types of communication with parents including, but not limited to, electronic mail, phone, and postal mail; and
     (((k))) (h) Perform other functions consistent with the purpose of the center as prescribed in subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) The superintendent of public instruction((, after consultation with the academic achievement and accountability commission,)) shall select and employ a director for the center.
     (4) The superintendent may enter into contracts with individuals or organizations including but not limited to: School districts; educational service districts; educational organizations; teachers; higher education faculty; institutions of higher education; state agencies; business or community-based organizations; and other individuals and organizations to accomplish the duties and responsibilities of the center. In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the center, the superintendent, whenever possible, shall use practitioners to assist agency staff as well as assist educators and others in schools and districts.
     (5) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature by September 1, 2007, and thereafter biennially, regarding the effectiveness of the center for improvement of student learning, how the services provided by the center for improvement of student learning have been used and by whom, and recommendations to improve the accessibility and application of knowledge and information that leads to improved student learning and greater family and community involvement in the public education system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) There is hereby created the office of the education ombudsman within the office of the governor for the purposes of providing information to parents, students, and others regarding their rights and responsibilities with respect to the state's public elementary and secondary education system, and advocating on behalf of elementary and secondary students.
     (2)(a) The governor shall appoint an ombudsman who shall be a person of recognized judgment, independence, objectivity, and integrity and shall be qualified by training or experience or both in the following areas:
     (i) Public education law and policy in this state;
     (ii) Dispute resolution or problem resolution techniques, including mediation and negotiation; and
     (iii) Community outreach.
     (b) The education ombudsman may not be an employee of any school district, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, or the state board of education while serving as an education ombudsman.
     (3) Before the appointment of the education ombudsman, the governor shall share information regarding the appointment to a six-person legislative committee appointed and comprised as follows:
     (a) The committee shall consist of three senators and three members of the house of representatives from the legislature.
     (b) The senate members of the committee shall be appointed by the president of the senate. Two members shall represent the majority caucus and one member the minority caucus.
     (c) The house of representatives members of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Two members shall represent the majority caucus and one member the minority caucus.
     (4) If sufficient appropriations are provided, the education ombudsman shall delegate and certify regional education ombudsmen. The education ombudsman shall ensure that the regional ombudsmen selected are appropriate to the community in which they serve and hold the same qualifications as in subsection (2)(a) of this section. The education ombudsman may not contract with the superintendent of public instruction, or any school, school district, or current employee of a school, school district, or the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the provision of regional ombudsman services.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The education ombudsman shall have the following powers and duties:
     (1) To develop parental involvement materials, including instructional guides developed to inform parents of the essential academic learning requirements required by the superintendent of public instruction. The instructional guides also shall contain actions parents may take to assist their children in meeting the requirements, and should focus on reaching parents who have not previously been involved with their children's education;
     (2) To provide information to students, parents, and interested members of the public regarding this state's public elementary and secondary education system;
     (3) To identify obstacles to greater parent and community involvement in school shared decision-making processes and recommend strategies for helping parents and community members to participate effectively in school shared decision-making processes, including understanding and respecting the roles of school building administrators and staff;
     (4) To identify and recommend strategies for improving the success rates of ethnic and racial student groups with disproportionate academic achievement;
     (5) To refer complainants and others to appropriate resources, agencies, or departments;
     (6) To facilitate the resolution of complaints made by parents and students with regard to the state's public elementary and secondary education system;
     (7) To perform such other functions consistent with the purpose of the education ombudsman; and
     (8) To consult with representatives of the following organizations and groups regarding the work of the office of the education ombudsman, including but not limited to:
     (a) The state parent teacher association;
     (b) Certificated and classified school employees;
     (c) School and school district administrators;
     (d) Parents of special education students;
     (e) Parents of English language learners;
     (f) The Washington state commission on Hispanic affairs;
     (g) The Washington state commission on African-American affairs;
     (h) The Washington state commission on Asian Pacific American affairs; and
     (i) The governor's office of Indian affairs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) Neither the education ombudsman nor any regional educational ombudsmen are liable for good faith performance of responsibilities under this chapter.
     (2) No discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action may be taken against any student or employee of any school district, the office of the superintendent of public education, or the state board of education, for any communication made, or information given or disclosed, to aid the education ombudsman in carrying out his or her duties and responsibilities, unless the same was done without good faith or maliciously. This subsection is not intended to infringe upon the rights of a school district to supervise, discipline, or terminate an employee for other reasons or to discipline a student for other reasons.
     (3) All communications by the education ombudsman or the ombudsman's staff or designee, if reasonably related to the education ombudsman's duties and responsibilities and done in good faith, are privileged and that privilege shall serve as a defense to any action in libel or slander.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   The education ombudsman shall treat all matters, including the identities of students, complainants, and individuals from whom information is acquired, as confidential, except as necessary to enable the education ombudsman to perform the duties of the office. Upon receipt of information that by law is confidential or privileged, the ombudsman shall maintain the confidentiality of such information and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as provided by applicable state or federal law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The education ombudsman shall report on the work and accomplishment of the office and advise and make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the state board of education annually. The initial report to the governor, the legislature, and the state board of education shall be made by September 1, 2007, and there shall be annual reports by September 1st each year thereafter. The annual reports shall provide at least the following information:
     (1) How the education ombudsman's services have been used and by whom;
     (2) Methods for the education ombudsman to increase and enhance family and community involvement in public education;
     (3) Recommendations to eliminate barriers and obstacles to meaningful family and community involvement in public education; and
     (4) Strategies to improve the educational opportunities for all students in the state, including recommendations from organizations and groups provided in section 4(8) of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 3 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   If specific funding for the purposes of this act and section 2 of this act, referencing this act and section 2 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 2006, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 2 of this act is null and void.