BILL REQ. #:  H-3720.1 

Read first time 01/20/2004.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to alternative learning experience programs; and amending RCW 28A.150.305.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.150.305 and 2002 c 291 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board of directors of school districts may contract with alternative educational service providers for eligible students. Alternative educational service providers that the school district may contract with include, but are not limited to:
     (a) Other schools;
     (b) Alternative education programs not operated by the school district;
     (c) Education centers;
     (d) Skills centers;
     (e) The Washington national guard youth challenge program;
     (f) Dropout prevention programs; or
     (g) Other public or private organizations, excluding sectarian or religious organizations.
     (2) Eligible students include students who are likely to be expelled or who are enrolled in the school district but have been suspended, are academically at risk, or who have been subject to repeated disciplinary actions due to behavioral problems.
     (3) School districts may operate or provide through contract alternative learning experience programs for eligible full-time students or eligible part-time students who meet the provisions of RCW 28A.150.350. The programs:
     (a) Must address the diverse needs of students for courses of study provided in nontraditional learning environments;
     (b) Must be supervised by certificated staff, who may be employed either by the school district or by a contractor selected by the school district;
     (c) Must provide each student with direct personal contact at least weekly with certificated staff designated by either the school district or by the contractor with the approval of the school district. Direct personal contact is for the purposes of instruction, assignment review, testing, evaluation of student progress, or other learning activities. Direct personal contact may include the use of telephone, interactive computer, or interactive video communication;
     (d) Must assess the educational progress of enrolled students at least annually, using, for full-time students, the state assessment provided for the student's grade level, and using any other annual assessments required by the school district. Part-time students must also be assessed at least annually. Part-time students who are either receiving home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW or who are enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW are not required to participate in the assessments required under RCW 28A.655.060;
     (e) May include significant participation by students, parents, and families in the design and implementation of a student's learning experience; and
     (f) May provide individualized courses of study for students.
     (4) If a school district board of directors ((chooses to)) initiates specialized programs for students at risk of expulsion or who are failing academically by contracting out with alternative educational service providers identified in subsection (1) of this section, the school district board of directors and the organization must specify the specific learning standards that students are expected to achieve. Placement of the student ((shall)) must be jointly determined by the school district, the student's parent or legal guardian, and the alternative educational service provider.
     (((4))) (5) For the purpose of this section, the superintendent of public instruction ((shall)) must adopt rules for reporting and documenting enrollment. Students may reenter at the grade level appropriate to the student's ability. Students who are sixteen years of age or older may take the GED test.
     (((5))) (6) The school district board of directors ((of school districts)) may require that students who would otherwise be suspended or expelled attend schools or programs listed in subsection (1) of this section as a condition of continued enrollment in the school district.