WSR 26-03-063
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION
[Filed January 16, 2026, 12:13 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Technical assistance; amending [adopting new] WAC 180-19-241 to establish standards for the provision of technical assistance by the Washington state charter school commission (commission), including initiation, objectives, scope, and its relationship to corrective action and authorizing decisions, in support of charter school compliance and accountability.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish:
WAC 180-19-241 Technical assistance. The commission is proposing rules to clarify and formalize its authority to provide technical assistance to charter schools and charter school boards under chapter
28A.710 RCW.
While the commission has long engaged in technical assistance as part of its authorizing and oversight responsibilities, existing rules do not clearly define the purpose, scope, initiation, or limits of such assistance. The absence of explicit regulatory standards has created ambiguity regarding when and how technical assistance may be offered, how it relates to corrective action and authorizing decisions, and how schools should understand participation in such support.
These rules are needed to establish a clear, transparent, and consistent framework for technical assistance that supports effective governance, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement across the charter sector.
Specifically, the proposed rule would accomplish the following:
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| • | Clarify authority and intent by expressly authorizing the commission to provide technical assistance both at the request of the charter schools and proactively, informed by oversight, monitoring, or risk-based review activities. |
| • | Differentiate technical assistance from corrective action, ensuring that nonpunitive, capacity-building support can occur independently of formal enforcement processes. |
| • | Promote early intervention and risk prevention by allowing the commission to address emerging academic, financial, operational, or governance concerns before they escalate into material noncompliance or threaten student welfare or public resources. |
| • | Increase transparency and shared understanding by defining the objectives, methods, and limitations of technical assistance, including how it relates to authorizing decisions. |
| • | Support consistent statewide practice by establishing standards for how technical assistance is initiated, delivered, and documented, whether provided by commission staff or contractors. |
| • | Reinforce accountability while preserving autonomy by affirming that participation in technical assistance does not constitute a finding of noncompliance and does not, by itself, result in adverse authorizing action. |
Overall, the proposed rule is intended to strengthen the commission's ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities as a public steward by providing timely, practical, and equitable support to charter schools, while maintaining clear boundaries between assistance, oversight, and enforcement.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: State board of education, office of superintendent of public instruction.
Process for Developing New Rule: Pilot rule making; and agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Marcus Harden, 1068 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, phone 360-725-5511, email Charterinfo@wa.k12.us, website charterschool.wa.gov.
January 7, 2026
Marcus Harden
Executive Director