AN ACT Relating to enrollment options for school districts; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.58 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. An enrollment options program is established in which a school district may voluntarily participate. This program shall enable any student to attend a school or program in a district in which the student does not reside, subject to the limitations set forth in sections 1 through 18 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. All school districts participating in the enrollment options program shall, by formal resolution, agree to:

(1) Allow its resident students to enroll in other participating districts;

(2) Accept nonresident students from other participating districts; and

(3) Follow the procedures outlined in sections 1 through 18 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. For the 1990-91 school year only, school districts which have less than one thousand students in kindergarten through grade twelve shall be excluded from participation in the enrollment options program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A school board may, by resolution, determine that nonresident students may not attend any of its schools or programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. In order that a student may attend a school or program outside his or her district under the enrollment options program, the student's parent or guardian shall submit an application to the nonresident district. The parent or guardian of a student residing in a district that does not have a desegregation plan must submit an application by January 1st for enrollment during the following school year. The parent or guardian of a student residing in a district that has a desegregation plan may apply to a district at any time. The application shall be on a form provided by the superintendent of public instruction. A particular school or program may be requested by the parent or guardian.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A district that has a desegregation plan may limit the number of students who transfer into or out of the district. To remain in compliance with its desegregation plan, the district may establish the number of majority and minority group students who may transfer into or out of the district. The district may accept or reject applications in a manner that will enable compliance with the desegregation plan. The district shall notify the parent or guardian and the resident district according to the requirements of section 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Within sixty days of receiving an application, a district that does not exclude nonresident students, according to section 4 of this act shall notify the parent or guardian and the resident district in writing whether the application has been accepted or rejected. If an application is rejected, the district must state in the notification the reason for rejection.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The school board must adopt, by resolution, specific standards for acceptance and rejection of applications. Standards may include the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building. Standards shall not include previous academic achievement, athletic or other extracurricular ability, handicapping conditions, proficiency in the English language, or previous disciplinary proceedings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Upon agreement of the resident and nonresident school boards, if applicable, the deadlines in sections 5 and 7 of this act may be waived.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. If requested by the parent or guardian of a student, the nonresident district shall provide transportation within the district pursuant to RCW 28A.24.055.

The resident district is not required to provide or pay for transportation between the student's residence and the border of the nonresident district. A parent or guardian may be reimbursed by the nonresident district for the costs of transportation from the student's residence to the border of the nonresident district if the student is from a family whose income is at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A nonresident district shall accept credits toward graduation that were awarded by another district. The nonresident district shall award a diploma to a nonresident student if the student meets its graduation requirements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A district that does not exclude nonresident students according to section 4 of this act shall make information about the district, schools, programs, policies, and procedures available to all interested persons.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Any student who has continuously been enrolled since January 1, 1978, in a school district of which the student was not a resident may continue in enrollment in that district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. Any student enrolled on either January 1, 1979, or April 5, 1979, in a nonpublic school located in a district of which the student was not a resident who would otherwise have qualified for enrollment in that district under sections 1 and 2 of this act may attend the public schools of that district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. A parent or guardian may apply to the nonresident district for reimbursement for transportation costs between the student's residence and the border of the nonresident district. The state board shall establish guidelines for reimbursing the transportation costs based on financial need.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. A district that serves nonresident students under sections 1 and 2 of this act shall provide authorized transportation to the student within the attendance area for the school that the student attends. The district of the student's residence need not provide or pay for transportation between the student's residence and the district's border.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. If a nonresident student attends a school under section 1 of this act, such student's attendance shall be credited to the nonresident school district of enrollment for state apportionment and other purposes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. School districts which participate in the enrollment options program shall receive the annual basic education allocation of funds and local assistance funds pursuant to chapter 28A.41 RCW. The state superintendent of public instruction may make such adjustments to the allocation of funds made to school districts participating in the enrollment options program as are deemed necessary and appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. This act shall not repeal, amend, or modify any law which provides enrollment options to students in this state but shall be held to be an additional and concurrent method providing for this purpose.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. Sections 1 through 19 of this act shall be added to chapter 28A.58 RCW.