AN ACT Relating to family life education; adding new sections to chapter 28A.120 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The family life education program is established. The purpose of the program is to provide formal instruction to equip children with basic life skills and comprehensive health information to provide for their protection and well-being. The program shall be designed for students in grades kindergarten through twelve to:

(1) Aid students in the development of skills that will assist them in making informed decisions concerning their health and interpersonal relationships;

(2) Contribute to the development and support of responsible personal behavior, strengthen family life for children and youth in the present and when they are adults;

(3) Contribute to the enrichment of the community;

(4) Help school districts in the development of comprehensive family life education policies leading to the implementation of family life education programs that contain comprehensive information and skill development curriculum which will include but not be limited to: Health education, acquired immune deficiency syndrome education, substance abuse education, child abuse and neglect prevention, and social skills development; and

(5) Develop an understanding of the physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, and psychological aspects of interpersonal relationships; the physiological, psychological, and cultural foundations of human development, sexuality, and reproduction, at various stages of growth.

Instruction should be appropriate to each student's level of maturity and take place within existing curriculum where possible. The program should be sensitive to diverse cultural and religious values.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to implement the family life education program under sections 1 through 6 of this act and shall provide to school districts from moneys specifically appropriated for the purposes of sections 1 through 6 of this act, technical assistance for the development and implementation of educational policies and in-service teacher training to family life education programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. School districts desiring to implement a family life education program shall apply to the superintendent of public instruction for technical assistance. The application shall include the following:

(1) A letter of commitment from the board of directors to adopt a comprehensive written policy on family life education, and a proposed family life education program and implementation plan, within six months of receipt of state technical assistance. The comprehensive policy and program shall emphasize cooperation and coordination in the development process through appropriate consultation and participation of teachers, school administrators, parents and guardians, students, physicians, members of community organizations, and members representative of the community. The school district shall demonstrate before program implementation that this consultation and participation have taken place. The process of consultation shall be continued throughout the duration of the program. If the district's board of directors has already adopted a comprehensive policy and plan, the district shall submit a copy of the comprehensive policy and plan to the superintendent of public instruction.

(2) A letter of commitment from the board of directors to appoint a school and community family life education advisory committee if such a committee has not been established. The advisory committee shall include representatives of at least the following: The certificated instructional staff, school administrators, parents and guardians, students, physicians, members of community organizations, and members representative of the community. If the district has already established an advisory committee but its membership does not include members representing any of the groups under this subsection, the board of directors shall appoint an additional member or members, if necessary. The advisory committee shall help coordinate school district programs and assure continued community participation and support.

(3) An outline of procedures for conducting an on-going evaluation of the effectiveness of the district's family life education program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint a family life education advisory committee composed of: Representatives of certificated and noncertificated staff; administrators; parents; students; school directors; and representatives from persons working in the fields of health care, mental health, substance abuse prevention, and child abuse and neglect prevention. The committee shall advise the superintendent of public instruction on matters of local program development, coordination, and evaluation. The advisory committee shall be representative of the diversity of Washington, both culturally and geographically.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The superintendent of public instruction, through the state clearinghouse for educational information, shall collect and disseminate to all school districts and other interested parties information about effective family life education programs the purpose of which is to assist school districts in developing plans which will meet their unique and individual needs, and which will reflect a variety of methods of implementing such plans.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The superintendent of public instruction shall report to the appropriate committees in the house of representatives and the senate by November 1, 1990, on the implementation of sections 1 through 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of .......... dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the superintendent of public instruction from the general fund for the remainder of the 1987-89 biennium to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.120 RCW.