BILL REQ. #:  H-4286.1 

Read first time 01/18/10.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to powers and duties of the office of the education ombudsman; and amending RCW 43.06B.020.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.06B.020 and 2008 c 165 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     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 and students with disabilities, 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 actively seek and accept public and private money and develop private-public partnerships to support the purposes of the office. Any gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources that are made for the use or benefit of the office may be spent without appropriation according to their terms, along with any income from such gifts, grants, or endowments; and
     (9) 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.