FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1521

C 202 L 11

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Recognizing Washington innovation schools.

Sponsors: Representatives Maxwell, Haigh, Sullivan, Pettigrew, Santos, Kenney, Liias, Frockt, Jacks, Clibborn, Probst, Sells, Lytton, Goodman, Orwall, Van De Wege, Green, Hunt, McCoy, Ladenburg, Billig, Seaquist, Fitzgibbon, Carlyle and Jinkins.

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

In Washington, local school district boards of directors have broad authority to manage and oversee the programs of education offered in their districts. Local districts may: create and configure educational and support services; establish schools that serve special populations of students or offer special magnet programs; create partnerships with community organizations and businesses; enter into inter-local agreements with other districts or Educational Service Districts to deliver programming and services; and implement innovations in staffing, parent involvement, curriculum, and instruction.

There are numerous examples of innovative schools and programs offered by local school districts across the state, but awareness of them by the public or other school districts is limited. There is no central repository of information about innovative schools and programs.

Summary:

The Legislature finds that innovation schools accomplish the following objectives:

• provide students and parents with a diverse array of educational options;

• promote active and meaningful parent and community involvement and partnership with local schools;

• serve as laboratories for educational experimentation and innovation;

• respond and adapt to different styles, approaches, and objectives of learning;

• hold students and educators to high expectations and standards; and

• encourage and facilitate bold, creative, and innovative educational ideas.

Examples of innovation schools are provided.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is directed to develop basic criteria and a streamlined review process to identify and designate Washington Innovation Schools. Within available funds, the OSPI also creates a logo, certificates, and other recognition strategies to encourage and highlight the schools. A page on the OSPI website must include research literature, best practices, summary information about Washington Innovation Schools, and a link to the schools' websites. The OSPI is encouraged to offer the design and development of the webpage as a project for an administrator intern. The OSPI must publicize the Washington Innovation School designation and encourage additional models of innovation.

Votes on Final Passage: