WSR 08-21-066

PROPOSED RULES

SUPERINTENDENT OF

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

[ Filed October 10, 2008, 11:37 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 08-17-010.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 392-121-108 Definition -- Enrollment exclusions.

     Hearing Location(s): Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Old Capitol Building, 600 South Washington, Olympia, WA, on November 25, 2008, at 9:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: November 26, 2008.

     Submit Written Comments to: Mitch Thompson, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, e-mail Mitch.Thompson@k12.wa.us, fax (360) 725-6306, by November 24, 2008.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Clarice Nnanabu by November 24, 2008, TTY (360) 664-3631 or (360) 725-6271.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The rule is being amended to include the exclusion of tuition paying students. The rule is also amended to clarify the twenty day absence exclusion to be twenty regular scheduled school days for the general student population of the school district. An exclusion previously listed under the enrollment limitations (WAC 392-121-136) is also being deleted from that WAC and added to WAC 392-121-108 to align with exclusions instead of limitations.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: This facilitates the placement of an exclusion for enrollment reporting under the correct WAC. Many districts have asked whether the twenty school days relate to individual part-time schedules or entire school population schedules. This gives that question clarity. Tuition paying students are excluded from enrollment counts in the RCW, this simply adds them to the WAC.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.150.290(1).

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Office of superintendent of public instruction, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Mitch Thompson, Old Capitol Building, 600 South Washington, Olympia, WA, (360) 725-6306; Implementation: Calvin W. Brodie, Old Capitol Building, 600 South Washington, Olympia, WA, (360) 725-6301; and Enforcement: Jennifer Priddy, Old Capitol Building, 600 South Washington, Olympia, WA, (360) 725-6292.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Not applicable.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328.

October 10, 2008

Dr. Terry Bergeson

State Superintendent

OTS-1985.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-23-008, filed 11/8/07, effective 12/9/07)

WAC 392-121-108   Definition -- Enrollment exclusions.   A person who qualifies for any of the exclusions set forth in this section shall not be counted as an enrolled student pursuant to WAC 392-121-106.

     (1) Absences - except as provided in (a) and (b) of this subsection, a student whose consecutive days of absence from school exceed twenty school days, or a part-time student that has not attended school at least once within a time period consisting of twenty consecutive school days, shall not be counted as an enrolled student until attendance is resumed. School days are defined as the regularly scheduled instructional days for the general population of the school or district the student is enrolled in, regardless of the student's individualized schedule.

     (a) If there is a written agreement between the appropriate school official and a student's parent or guardian pursuant to RCW 28A.225.010 that the student's temporary absence is not deemed to cause a serious adverse effect upon the student's educational progress, the absent student may be counted as an enrolled student for up to two monthly enrollment count dates as specified in WAC 392-121-122.

     (b) A student receiving home and/or hospital service pursuant to WAC ((392-172-218)) 392-172A-02100 shall be counted as an enrolled student as provided in WAC 392-122-145.

     (2) Dropouts - a student for whom the school district has received notification of dropping out of school by the student or the student's parent or guardian shall not be counted as an enrolled student until attendance is resumed.

     (3) Transfers - a student who has transferred to another public or private school and for whom the school district has received notification of transfer from the school to which the student has transferred, from the student, or from the student's parent or guardian shall not be counted as an enrolled student unless the student reenrolls in the school district.

     (4) Suspensions - a student who has been suspended from school pursuant to WAC 392-400-260, when the conditions of the suspension will cause the student to lose academic grades or credit, shall not be counted as an enrolled student until attendance is resumed.

     (5) Expulsions - a student who has been expelled from all school subjects or classes by the school district pursuant to WAC 392-400-275 or 392-400-290 shall not be counted as an enrolled student; a student who has been partially expelled, such as from a single school subject or class, by the school district pursuant to WAC 392-400-275 or 392-400-290 may be considered a part-time enrolled student.

     (6) Graduates - a student who has met the high school graduation requirements of chapter 180-51 WAC by the beginning of the school year.

     (7) Tuition - a student paying tuition including, but not limited to, students on an F-1 visa or students enrolled in a tuition-based summer school program.

     (8) An institution student who is claimed as a 1.0 FTE by any institution as an enrolled student eligible for state institutional education support pursuant to chapter 392-122 WAC where the institution's count date occurs prior to the school district count date for the month. Where the count dates occur on the same date, the institution shall have priority for counting the student.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.150.290. 07-23-008, § 392-121-108, filed 11/8/07, effective 12/9/07; 05-19-140, § 392-121-108, filed 9/21/05, effective 10/22/05; 97-22-013 (Order 97-06), § 392-121-108, filed 10/27/97, effective 11/27/97; 95-01-013, § 392-121-108, filed 12/8/94, effective 1/8/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.150.290, 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260. 91-02-096 (Order 50), § 392-121-108, filed 1/2/91, effective 2/2/91. Statutory Authority: 1990 c 33. 90-16-002 (Order 18), § 392-121-108, filed 7/19/90, effective 8/19/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.41.055 and 28A.41.170. 88-03-013 (Order 88-8), § 392-121-108, filed 1/11/88.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office