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                                          ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 5370

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Gaspard and Bailey

Read first time 1/23/89 and referred to Committee on   Education.

AN ACT Relating to self-study of schools; and amending RCW 28A.58.085.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 349, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 2, chapter 256, Laws of 1988 and RCW 28A.58.085 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each school district board of directors shall develop a schedule and process by which each public school within its jurisdiction shall undertake self-study procedures on a regular basis:  PROVIDED, That districts may allow two or more elementary school buildings in the district to undertake jointly the self-study process.  Each school may follow the accreditation process developed by the state board of education under RCW 28A.04.120 (6), although no school is required to file for actual accreditation, or the school may follow a self-study process developed locally.  ((Whatever process is used must focus upon the quality and appropriateness of the school's educational program and the results of its operational efforts.)) The initial self-study process within each district shall begin by September 1, 1986, and should be completed for all schools within a district by the end of the 1990-91 school year.

(2) Any self-study process must include the participation of staff, parents, members of the community, and students, where appropriate to their age.

(3) The self-study process that is used must focus upon the quality and appropriateness of the school's educational program and the results of its operational effort.  The primary emphasis throughout the process shall be placed upon:

          (((1))) (a) Achieving educational excellence and equity;

          (((2))) (b) Building stronger links with the community; and

          (((3))) (c) Reaching consensus upon educational expectations through community involvement and corresponding school management.

          ((The initial self-study process within each district shall begin by September 1, 1986, and should be completed for all schools within a district by the end of the 1990-91 school year.))

(4) The state board of education shall ((develop)) adopt rules ((and regulations)) governing procedural criteria.  Such rules ((and regulations)) should be flexible so as to accommodate local goals and circumstances.  The rules ((and regulations)) may allow for waiver of the self-study for economic reasons and may also allow for waiver of the initial self-study if a district or its schools have participated successfully in an official accreditation process or in a similar assessment of educational programs within the last three years.  The self-study process shall be conducted on a cyclical basis every seven years following the initial 1990-91 period.

(5) The superintendent of public instruction shall provide training to assist districts in their self-studies.

(6) Each district shall report every two years to the superintendent of public instruction on the scheduling and implementation of their self-study activities.  The report shall include information about how the district and each school within the district have addressed the issue of class size and staffing patterns.