H-1301.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1931

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Quall, Dunshee, Kagi and Edmonds

Read first time 02/08/2001.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Establishing a mandatory community service graduation requirement.

    AN ACT Relating to a mandatory community service graduation requirement; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) The greatest impact on the community and with students is made when schools arrange and require community service opportunities, 56.3% of students in grades six through twelve did community service if it was arranged and required, compared to 18.9% if it was only required.

    (2) Thirty-two percent of all public schools, including nearly half of all high schools, organized community service as part of their curriculum.

    (3) Eighty-three percent of public high schools nationwide had students participating in community service activities recognized by the schools.

    (4) This legislation is taken directly from Maryland legal code.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:

    Students shall complete seventy-five hours of student service that includes preparation, action, and reflection components and that, at the discretion of the local school system, may begin during the middle grades; or a locally designed program in student service that has been approved by the state superintendent of public instruction.  These requirements must be completed before graduation.

                            --- END ---