S-660                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3591

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators DeJarnatt, Metcalf, Craswell, Johnson and Lee

Read first time 2/5/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to educational pilot projects; creating new sections; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that quality education is of utmost importance to the citizens of this state.  In an effort to encourage excellence in education, the legislature recognizes advantages in permitting local school districts the autonomy to develop programs and implement changes to their school systems to respond to their individual needs.  It is the intent of the legislature to authorize pilot projects that would return some local control to school districts while improving the quality of education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) Beginning with the 1985-86 school year, local school districts may design and implement pilot projects as described in this section upon approval of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.  Local school districts shall apply with the office of the superintendent of public instruction to participate in a pilot project for one or two school years.

          (2) The pilot projects authorized under this section shall permit a four-day school week, with no change in the total number of classroom days for students.  School districts shall establish programs for using some or all of the remaining weekdays for staff development, including but not limited to teacher planning time and curriculum development.

          (3) This section shall expire June 30, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall make findings on the pilot  projects and report these findings and make recommendations to the legislature in January 1988.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1985.