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SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 6574
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Passed
Legislature - 1998 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/06/98.
Authorizing
learning materials to be loaned to private school students.
AN
ACT Relating to the learning materials loan program; adding a new section to
chapter 28A.195 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature, in fulfilling its role as stated in the state Constitution,
namely, that "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample
provision for the education of all children residing within its
borders...", finds that families with children enrolled in approved
private schools are an integral part of fulfilling the state's educational
mission.
The
legislature further recognizes that a significant percentage of students attend
approved private schools and frequently move between the state's publicly and
privately funded schools. The parents of these children are subject to taxes
and levies to fulfill the education provided through our common schools. In
addition, these parents pay for student learning materials their child uses in
the approved private school that would be free of additional charge in the
common school. In acknowledgement of this additional burden and in recognizing
the role of our state's approved private schools in helping to fulfill the
constitutional mandate to provide a basic education to our children, the
legislature recognizes the need for equalization. The sole purpose of this act
is to assist children, not schools.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 28A.195 RCW to read as follows:
Students
attending state-approved private schools may receive loaned learning materials
from the local school district in which the private school is located. To
provide these materials to students, approved private schools shall submit annual
requests for learning materials to the local school district in which the
private school is located. The local school district may provide through a
loan agreement the learning materials in accordance with the following
guidelines:
(1)
The local school district shall make a good faith effort to accommodate
requests for learning materials.
(2)
Learning materials support shall not be limited, in any way, based on a
student's economic status.
(3)
"Learning materials" means textbooks and workbooks.
(4)
Only textbooks listed on the official adoption list of the local school
district are eligible.
(5)
Loaned learning materials shall neither promote nor deter sectarian or
religious activities of the private school.
(6)
No approved private school may be required to participate in learning materials
support provided by the state.
(7)
Only students who attend state-approved private schools are eligible for
learning materials support.
(8)
Student learning materials designed for religious instruction are not eligible
for learning materials support.
(9)
No laws or rules may be added beyond those already in existence as of January
1, 1998, that have a direct or indirect impact on the autonomy of the private
school as a result of the student's receipt of learning materials support.
(10)
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt guidelines
for effective implementation of this section.
(11)
To assist the state, the office of the superintendent of public instruction may
identify currently existing, nonsectarian, state-wide private school
organizations to serve as the liaison with the state for eligible private
schools whose students are receiving or are interested in receiving loaned
learning materials.
(12)
Student learning materials loaned to students attending private schools under
this section shall, at all times, be considered the property of the local
school district.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. This
act takes effect September 1, 1998.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If
any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to
other persons or circumstances is not affected.
