BILL REQ. #:  H-4360.1 

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

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing innovative interdistrict cooperative high school programs; amending RCW 28A.225.200, 28A.225.200, 28A.545.040, and 28A.545.120; adding new sections to chapter 28A.340 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the availability of technology, online learning, and field and project-based curricula offer new opportunities for school districts to design innovative programs for high school students. However, the legislature also finds that while small, rural school districts desire to offer innovative learning options for students in their communities, they are constrained by state laws and rules that appear to prohibit nonhigh school districts from creating options for their high school students in cooperation with other nonhigh school districts. Therefore, the legislature intends to authorize and encourage innovative, cooperative high school programs for students from very small school districts.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.340 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Two or more nonhigh school districts may form an interdistrict cooperative, to offer an innovation academy cooperative, as defined in section 3 of this act and subject to the approval of the office of the superintendent of public instruction under section 4 of this act, for high school students residing in the participating nonhigh school districts.
     (2) Enrollment in an innovation academy cooperative is optional for students. For students residing in a participating nonhigh school district who enroll in a high school district rather than the innovation academy cooperative, the provisions of RCW 28A.540.110 and chapter 28A.545 RCW apply to the nonhigh school district.
     (3) State funding allocations for basic education for students enrolled in an innovation academy cooperative shall be based on the small high school allocations under the omnibus appropriations act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.340 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For the purposes of sections 2 through 4 of this act, an innovation academy cooperative is a high school program with one or more of the following characteristics:
     (a) Interdisciplinary curriculum and instruction organized into subject-focused themes or academies. Programs are encouraged to provide an initial focus on academies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
     (b) A combination of instructional service delivery models, including alternative learning experiences, online learning, work-based learning, experiential and field-based learning, and direct classroom instruction at multiple and varying locations;
     (c) Intensive and accelerated learning to enable students to complete high school credits in a short time period; and
     (d) Creative scheduling and use of existing school or community facilities in innovative ways to minimize facility and transportation costs and maximize access for students who may be geographically dispersed.
     (2) Participating nonhigh school districts shall work with local community and technical colleges and four-year institutions of higher education to expand the learning options available for students in an innovation academy cooperative.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.340 RCW to read as follows:
     Nonhigh school districts proposing to enter an interdistrict agreement to offer an innovation academy cooperative shall submit a copy of the proposed agreement and operating and instructional plans for the cooperative to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for technical review. The purpose of the review is for the office to provide technical assistance and advice to assure that the cooperative addresses issues identified under RCW 28A.225.250 and to assure that the proposed instructional program will offer courses and learning experiences that enable students to earn high school credit and complete a high school diploma. The office of the superintendent of public instruction must approve agreements and plans before an innovation academy cooperative begins operation.

Sec. 5   RCW 28A.225.200 and 1990 c 33 s 234 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A local district may be authorized by the educational service district superintendent to transport and educate its pupils in other districts for one year, either by payment of a compensation agreed upon by such school districts, or under other terms mutually satisfactory to the districts concerned when this will afford better educational facilities for the pupils and when a saving may be effected in the cost of education: PROVIDED, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount to be paid by the state to the resident school district for apportionment purposes and otherwise payable pursuant to RCW 28A.150.100, 28A.150.250 through 28A.150.290, 28A.150.350 through 28A.150.410, 28A.160.150 through 28A.160.200, ((28A.160.220)) 28A.300.035, 28A.300.170, and 28A.500.010 shall not be greater than the regular apportionment for each high school student of the receiving district. Such authorization may be extended for an additional year at the discretion of the educational service district superintendent.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to districts participating in a cooperative project established under RCW 28A.340.030 which exceeds two years in duration or to nonhigh school districts participating in an interdistrict cooperative under sections 2 through 4 of this act.

Sec. 6   RCW 28A.225.200 and 2009 c 548 s 706 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A local district may be authorized by the educational service district superintendent to transport and educate its pupils in other districts for one year, either by payment of a compensation agreed upon by such school districts, or under other terms mutually satisfactory to the districts concerned when this will afford better educational facilities for the pupils and when a saving may be effected in the cost of education. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount to be paid by the state to the resident school district for apportionment purposes and otherwise payable pursuant to RCW 28A.150.250 through 28A.150.290, 28A.150.350 through 28A.150.410, 28A.160.150 through 28A.160.200, 28A.300.035, and 28A.300.170 shall not be greater than the regular apportionment for each high school student of the receiving district. Such authorization may be extended for an additional year at the discretion of the educational service district superintendent.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to districts participating in a cooperative project established under RCW 28A.340.030 which exceeds two years in duration or to nonhigh school districts participating in an interdistrict cooperative under sections 2 through 4 of this act.

Sec. 7   RCW 28A.545.040 and 1995 c 77 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
     The term "student residing in a nonhigh school district" and its equivalent as used in RCW 28A.545.030 through 28A.545.110 and 84.52.0531 shall mean any common school age person with or without disabilities who resides within the boundaries of a nonhigh school district that does not conduct the particular kindergarten through grade twelve grade which the person has not yet successfully completed and is eligible to enroll in, not including students enrolled in an innovation academy cooperative established under sections 2 through 4 of this act.

Sec. 8   RCW 28A.545.120 and 2006 c 263 s 325 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction, with recommendations from the school facilities citizen advisory panel under RCW 28A.525.025, shall adopt rules governing the establishment in any existing nonhigh school district of any secondary program or any new grades in grades nine through twelve. Before any such program or any new grades are established, the district must obtain prior approval of the superintendent of public instruction.
     (2) This section does not apply to innovation academy cooperatives established under sections 2 through 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall review the implementation of sections 2 through 4 of this act to identify keys to success and any barriers to successful implementation of innovation academy cooperatives and submit a report to the education committees of the legislature by January 1, 2013.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   Section 5 of this act expires September 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   Section 6 of this act takes effect September 1, 2011.