S-3064               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6140

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Talmadge

Read first time 4/10/89 and referred to Committee on  Ways & Means.

AN ACT Relating to programs for highly capable students; and amending RCW 28A.16.060.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 13, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28A.16.060 are each amended to read as follows:

          Local school districts ((may)) shall establish and operate, either separately or jointly, programs for highly capable students.  Such authority shall include the right to employ and pay special instructors and to operate such programs jointly with a public institution of higher education.  Local school districts which establish and operate programs for highly capable students shall adopt identification procedures and provide educational opportunities as follows:

          (1)  In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the superintendent of public instruction, school districts shall implement procedures for nomination, assessment and selection of their most highly capable students.  Nominations shall be based upon data from teachers, other staff, parents, students, and members of the community.  Assessment shall be based upon a review of each student's capability as shown by multiple criteria intended to reveal, from a wide variety of sources and data, each student's unique needs and capabilities.  Selection shall be made by a broadly based committee of professionals, after consideration of the results of the multiple criteria assessment.

          (2)  Students selected pursuant to procedures outlined in this section shall be provided, to the extent feasible, an educational opportunity which takes into account each student's unique needs and capabilities and the limits of the resources and program options available to the district, including those options which can be developed or provided by using funds allocated by the superintendent of public instruction for that purpose.