S-800                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3350

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Gaspard, Patterson and Barr

Read first time 1/25/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to cooperative programs and services between or among school districts; and amending RCW 28A.58.075.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 12, chapter 130, Laws of 1969 and RCW 28A.58.075 are each amended to read as follows:

          Any school district may cooperate with one or more school districts in the following:

          (1) The joint financing, planning, construction, equipping and operating of any educational facility otherwise authorized by law:  PROVIDED, That any cooperative financing plan involving the construction of school plant facilities must be approved by the state board of education pursuant to such rules as may now or hereafter be promulgated relating to state approval of school construction.

          (2) The joint maintenance and operation of educational programs or services (a) either as a part of the operation of a joint facility or otherwise, (b) either on a full or part time attendance basis, and (c) either on a regular one hundred eighty day school year or extended school year:  PROVIDED, That any such joint program or service must be operated pursuant to a written agreement approved by the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated therefor.  In establishing rules and regulations the state superintendent shall consider, among such other factors as he deems appropriate, the economic feasibility of said services and programs, the educational and administrative scope of said agreement and the need for said programs or services.  The joint operation of any programs or services, however, shall not result in one or more cooperating school districts being designated a nonhigh school district under chapters 28A.44 or 28A.56 RCW even though the operation of the programs or services may cause all or substantially all of the curriculum for a particular grade or particular grades to be taught in only one district.

          Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the state superintendent of public instruction shall establish rules and regulations for the apportionment of attendance credits for such students as are enrolled in a jointly operated facility or program, including apportionment for approved part time and extended school year attendance.