SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5648
As of February 9, 2023
Title: An act relating to including state-tribal education compact schools and charter schools as entities able to receive waivers from the state board of education for certain educational provisions.
Brief Description: Including state-tribal education compact schools and charter schools as entities able to receive waivers from the state board of education.
Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Randall, Nguyen, Nobles and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/09/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Specifies that the State Board of Education has the authority to grant waivers to school districts, state-tribal education compact schools, and charter public schools from provisions relating to certain instructional requirements and waivers relating to educational restructuring programs.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)
Background:

State Board of Education.  The 16-member State Board of Education (SBE) is comprised of five members elected by geographic regions by school board directors, one member elected by private school directors, seven members appointed by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and two student members.
 
The SBE has various duties and powers prescribed in statute, including:

  •  providing advocacy and strategic oversight of public education;
  •  establishing high school graduation requirements or equivalencies;
  •  identifying scores students must meet to achieve standard on statewide assessments; and
  •  approving and accrediting private schools according to requirements established by the SBE

 
The SBE may also grant waivers to districts from the provisions of statutes or rules relating to the length of the school year, student-to-teacher ratios, and other administrative rules that may need to be waived in order for a district to implement a plan for restructuring educational programs within the district.
  
Basic Education Minimum Instructional Requirements.  School districts must meet annual minimum requirements for providing instructional hours and school days.  Districts must offer students a district-wide average of at least 1080 hours for students in grades 9 through 12 and a minimum of 1000 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 8.  School districts must also offer a minimum of 180 days of instruction each year to students in all grades.

 

The instructional program of basic education provided by each school district shall also include instruction that provides the students the opportunity to complete 24 credits for high school graduation.  Course distribution requirements may be established by the SBE.
 
Graduation Requirements—Overview.  To qualify for graduation from a public high school in Washington, students must satisfy course and credit requirements established by the SBE, meet any locally established requirements, complete a high school and beyond plan, and meet the requirements of at least one graduation pathway option.
Summary of Bill:

School districts, state-tribal education compact schools, and charter public schools are specified as entities eligible to receive waivers from the SBE relating to the requirement that each school district provide the opportunity to complete 24 credits for high school graduation, as well as waivers relating to the length of the school year, student-to-teacher ratios, and other administrative rules that may need to be waived in order for a district to implement a plan for restructuring educational programs within the district.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.