BILL REQ. #:  H-1589.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/16/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention; amending RCW 28A.230.095; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that having updated school district policies and procedures is a step in the right direction for preventing bullying, intimidation, and harassment, but more steps are needed. An ongoing work group could help to maintain focus and attention on antibullying and antiharassment, as well as monitor progress. In addition, students' knowledge and understanding of two key correlates of bullying and harassment, depression and youth suicide, could be enhanced through instruction and assessments that address mental health and suicide prevention.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the office of the education ombudsman shall convene an ongoing work group on school bullying and harassment prevention to develop, recommend, and implement strategies to improve school climate and create respectful learning environments in all public schools in Washington. The superintendent of public instruction or a designee shall serve as the chair of the work group.
     (2) The work group shall:
     (a) Consider whether additional disaggregated data should be collected regarding incidents of bullying and harassment or disciplinary actions and make recommendations to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for collection of such data;
     (b) Examine possible procedures for anonymous reporting of incidents of bullying and harassment;
     (c) Identify curriculum and best practices for school districts to improve school climate and create respectful learning environments;
     (d) Identify curriculum and best practices for incorporating instruction about mental health, youth suicide prevention, and prevention of bullying and harassment;
     (e) Recommend best practices for informing parents about the harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention policy and procedure under RCW 28A.300.285 and involving parents in improving school climate;
     (f) Recommend training for district personnel who are designated as the primary contact regarding the policy and procedure and for school resource officers and other school security personnel;
     (g) Recommend preservice training in harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention for teachers, educational staff associates, and school administrators;
     (h) Examine and recommend policies for discipline of students and staff who harass, intimidate, or bully; and
     (i) In collaboration with the state board for community and technical colleges, examine and recommend policies to protect K-12 students attending community and technical colleges from harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
     (3) The work group must include:
     (a) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
     (b) Two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; and
     (c) Representatives from the state board of education, the Washington state parent teacher association, school directors, school administrators, principals, teachers, school counselors, classified school staff, youth, community organizations, and parents.
     (4) The work group shall submit a biennial progress and status report to the governor and the education committees of the legislature, beginning December 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The state board for community and technical colleges shall compile and analyze policies and procedures adopted by community and technical colleges regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention.
     (2) The higher education coordinating board shall compile and analyze policies and procedures adopted by four-year institutions of higher education regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention.
     (3) Each board under this section shall submit a report with recommendations for improvements in the policies and procedures to the education and higher education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2011.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.230.095 and 2009 c 556 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) By the end of the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall have in place in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools assessments or other strategies chosen by the district to assure that students have an opportunity to learn the essential academic learning requirements in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness. Social studies includes history, geography, civics, economics, and social studies skills. Health and fitness includes, but is not limited to, mental health and suicide prevention education. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit an implementation verification report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The office of the superintendent of public instruction may not require school districts to use a classroom-based assessment in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness to meet the requirements of this section and shall clearly communicate to districts their option to use other strategies chosen by the district.
     (2) Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall require students in the seventh or eighth grade, and the eleventh or twelfth grade to each complete at least one classroom-based assessment in civics. Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, school districts shall require students in the fourth or fifth grade to complete at least one classroom-based assessment in civics. The civics assessment may be selected from a list of classroom-based assessments approved by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit implementation verification reports to the office of the superintendent of public instruction documenting the use of the classroom-based assessments in civics.
     (3) Verification reports shall require school districts to report only the information necessary to comply with this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Section 4 of this act takes effect July 1, 2012.