FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2494

                          C 83 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Amending the duty of the state board of education to approve private schools to include kindergarten.

Sponsors:  Representatives Poulsen, Brumsickle and Carlson; by request of Board of Education.

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Background: The state Board of Education sets standards and procedures for approving private schools.  The board may approve any private school that meets the standards and that carries out a program for any or all grades one through 12.  The approval process does not extend to kindergarten or pre-kindergarten programs.

The Department of Social and Health Services licenses child day care centers.  Licenses are granted to facilities regularly providing care for a group of children for periods of less than 24 hours.  Schools that are engaged primarily in education are not required to obtain day care licenses.

Summary:  In addition to its current authority to approve private school programs in grades one through 12, the state Board of Education may approve kindergarten programs in private schools.

The board may not approve a private school that operates only a kindergarten program.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    49 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996