H-1231              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1868

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Peery, Pruitt and P. King

Read first time 2/8/89 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to alternative learning programs; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.03 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature wishes to allow schools to be creative in addressing the changing needs of our students.  To reach that goal, school districts that are selected and funded as schools for the twenty-first century pilot program participants may request waivers of certain rules.

          (2) All school districts are authorized to request waivers of statutes or rules as allowed in RCW 28A.100.048 and 28A.100.050.

          (3) The district may apply for the waiver by providing a description of the educational plan it intends to implement, identification of the statute or rule that impedes implementation of its educational plan, and an explanation of how the educational plan will improve the education of the target population.  The district must also identify the method of assessment to be used to evaluate the program.

          (4) The state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the operation of the waiver process.

          (5) Waivers shall be granted for one year and may be renewed for a three-year period based on evidence that the waiver has resulted in positive program outcomes.  In considering the effectiveness of a program, the superintendent of public instruction shall recognize the limited resources of the school district and shall permit the waiver to continue unless there is a compelling reason to believe that the program is detrimental to the educational program of the target population.