BILL REQ. #:  H-4009.1 

Prefiled 01/07/10. Read first time 01/11/10.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to encouraging kindergarten outreach; amending RCW 28A.150.205; adding a new section to chapter 28A.305 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 the foundations of school success are laid long before students enter kindergarten. Parents are their children's primary educators and must be acknowledged as key partners in the education process. The legislature recognizes that time and finances are constraints in expanding parent outreach and parent involvement activities. But the legislature believes that the benefits of outreach to parents of kindergarten students and supporting their students' transition into school are worth the cost of some instructional time in kindergarten.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.305 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A school district may submit an application to the state board of education to count hours of kindergarten outreach as defined by this section for up to five percent of the minimum instructional hours for kindergarten students required under RCW 28A.150.220 and 28A.150.315.
     (2) The purpose of kindergarten outreach is to encourage, support, and assist parents in their role as the primary educator of their children and to support students' successful transition into the K-12 education system. Outreach activities should be structured to be as accessible as possible to the maximum number of parents. Participation in kindergarten outreach activities is optional for parents.
     (3) As used in this section, "kindergarten outreach" includes, but is not limited to:
     (a) Visits to students' homes to meet with parents or legal guardians;
     (b) Special educational events or activities for both parents and students; and
     (c) Classes or workshops for parents.
     (4) The state board of education shall develop a procedure for receiving and reviewing applications under this section. A school district may submit an application for some or all kindergarten programs in the district and for half-day or full-day kindergarten programs. At a minimum:
     (a) Each application must include home visits as one kindergarten outreach activity but may include other additional activities.
     (b) The type of kindergarten outreach activities proposed, their intended purpose, and the estimated number of hours for each must be identified and described in the application.
     (c) Kindergarten outreach must be conducted by the certificated instructional staff and classified instructional support staff who would otherwise be providing direct instruction to the kindergarten students. Other school or district staff may also participate in outreach activities.
     (5) An application approved by the state board of education under this section may be in effect for no more than three school years, after which a school district must reapply.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.150.205 and 1992 c 141 s 502 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definition in this section applies throughout RCW 28A.150.200 through 28A.150.295 and section 2 of this act.
     (1) "Instructional hours" means those hours students are provided the opportunity to engage in educational activity planned by and under the direction of school district staff, as directed by the administration and board of directors of the district, inclusive of intermissions for class changes, recess, and teacher/parent-guardian conferences that are planned and scheduled by the district for the purpose of discussing students' educational needs or progress, and exclusive of time actually spent for meals.
     (2) For school districts with applications approved by the state board of education under section 2 of this act, "instructional hours" also means hours of kindergarten outreach activities.