SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5648
As Passed Senate, February 28, 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 and the office of the superintendent of public instruction under the authority of RCW 28A.300.750.
Brief Description: Including state-tribal education compact schools and charter schools as entities able to receive waivers from the state board of education.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Wellman, Randall, Nguyen, Nobles and Wilson, C.).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/09/23, 2/13/23 [DPS].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/28/23, 48-0.
Brief Summary of First Substitute 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.
  • Adds state-tribal education compact schools and charter public schools as entities able to receive waivers from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for certain provisions in order to implement successfully a local plan to provide for all students an effective education system that is designed to enhance the educational program for each student.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5648 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hawkins, Ranking Member; Dozier, Hunt, McCune, Mullet and Pedersen.
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.

 

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) may grant school districts waivers from certain basic education provisions in order to implement successfully a local plan to provide for all students an effective education system that is designed to enhance the educational program for each student.
 
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 First Substitute 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.

 

State-tribal education compact schools, and charter public schools are added to the entities eligible for waivers from OSPI from basic education provisions to implement successfully a local plan to provide for all students an effective education system that is designed to enhance the educational program for each student.

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.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: The entities in the bill were not spelled out and have been left out of waiver opportunities.  These waivers allow kids to explore differing career paths in an appropriate educational setting.  The waivers would allow for flexibility for conferencing with families outside of the school day.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Lisa Wellman, Prime Sponsor; Garth Reeves, Why Not You Academy; Travis Franklin, Spokane International Academy.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.