Brief Description: Allowing school employees' children with disabilities to enroll in special services programs in the district where the employee is assigned.

Sponsors: By Representatives Wallace, Skinner, Kagi, Hankins, Roberts, Chase, Kenney, Moeller, Simpson and Santos.

House Committee on Education
Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

Generally, a public school student must attend school in the district where the student lives. However, a student may apply to attend a school outside of the district where he or she lives. School districts are required to have policies regarding how such applications are decided, and state law provides specific reasons for districts to reject applications.

School districts must accept applications from non-resident students who are children of full-time certificated and classified school employees. Such students may enroll at the school where the parent/employee works, or at a school forming the district's K through 12 continuum which includes the school where the parent/employee works. Districts may reject applications from non-resident children of district employees because of prior discipline or behavioral problems or if enrollment would displace a child who is a resident of the district.

Each school district is required to provide special education for all children with disabilities between the ages of three and 21. This includes preschool, elementary school, and secondary school. By September 1, 2009, each school district is required to provide, or contract for, early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age.

Summary:

A school district must allow the non-resident children of full-time certificated and classified school employees to enroll at a school in the district that provides early intervention or preschool services for special education students, so long as the student is eligible for such services.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0

House   97   0
Senate   48   0

Effective: June 12, 2008