BILL REQ. #:  S-1892.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/24/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to basic education allocations for tribal schools; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:
     Federally recognized Indian tribes providing K-12 education that elect to receive funding directly from the superintendent of public instruction shall report their student full-time equivalent served to the superintendent of public instruction. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide funding directly to the tribal schools using the state average basic education and vocational education rates as used in the running start funding for community and technical colleges. In addition to the basic education moneys, tribal schools shall also receive the student achievement funding provided under RCW 28A.505.220.
     A federally recognized Indian tribe operating a tribal school may choose to continue to receive allocations through a school district pursuant to an interlocal agreement with the district.
     Before any allocation of basic education moneys are paid directly to a serving tribe, the superintendent of public instruction shall enter into an agreement with the serving tribe. The agreement must include required compliance with applicable state and federal laws.
     The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall meet with the tribes in accordance with the centennial accord and on a government-to-government basis to develop a long-term proposal for the Washington state public education system and tribal schools.