SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6695

BYSenators Craswell, Smith, Bailey, Owen, Pullen, Rasmussen, Conner, Benitz, Stratton, Patterson, Metcalf, Lee and Johnson

Bringing unapproved church schools within the approval process.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Kiskaddon, Vice Chairman; Benitz, Craswell, Lee.

Senate Staff:Don Bennett (786-7424)

                  February 3, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 13, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Private schools are required to file an annual statement with the Superintendent of Public Instruction certifying that specific minimum standards are met to qualify as an approved private school.

Minimum requirements for approval include: a 180 day school year or its equivalent in annual program hour offerings, basic education program hour offerings according to grade level, state certification of classroom teachers except teachers of religious courses or teachers of unusual competence supervised by certificated teachers, guarding permanent records against loss or damage, adequate physical facilities to meet health and fire safety requirements, sufficient units of instruction to meet high school graduation requirements, and maintaining policy statements on school administration and operation.

The compulsory school attendance law requires parents to assure that their children attend public school in the district in which the child resides unless: the child is attending an approved private school or an extension program of such school, the child is receiving home-based instruction, or the superintendent of the district has excused the child due to a handicapping condition or because he or she is over age 15 and has met graduation requirements or for other reasons is permitted to leave school.

A number of churches operate educational programs as one aspect of ministry to the families which comprise the church. The operators of these schools object to the approval process based upon their firm belief that state regulation is an infringement of religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

SUMMARY:

"Approved private school" is defined as a state-approved private school or a church-approved private school.  "Church- approved private school" is defined as a school that is an integral and inseparable part of a church ministry, offering a structured program of academic instruction and is approved by the governing body of the sponsoring church.

All references to "private school" in the private school approval law are changed to "state-approved private school" such that only those schools which are state-approved are subject to the requirements of the law.  Only state-approved private schools may appeal actions of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the State Board of Education related to the private school approval law.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Gary Prisk, Bible Baptist Church-Oak Harbor, Washington Coalition for Religious Liberty (for); Roy Delia, Cascade Vista Baptist Church-Renton (for); Shirley Olsen, Concerned Women For America (for)