Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
HB 1289
Brief Description: Gathering survey information to improve the public school system.
Sponsors: Representatives McClintock, Santos, Schmidt and Timmons.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC) to create a voluntary, confidential online survey for parents or guardians that transfer or withdraw students from public schools.
  • Requires the WSIPC to report an annual summary of the survey data to specified recipients.
Hearing Date: 1/23/25
Staff: Damian Morden-Snipper (786-7296) and Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:

Parents or guardians of children enrolled in a Washington public school may transfer their children to another public school or a private school, or they may withdraw their children for home schooling.  School districts may request an optional exit interview or questionnaire with the parents or guardians in order to help assess the quality of the district’s education program.

 

School districts are required by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and certain federal programs and regulations to collect data regarding the status of a student's transfer request, including whether confirmation of enrollment in a new school or district has been received.  School districts are also required to collect data indicating whether a student's withdrawal was voluntary or involuntary and the reason for a student's withdrawal.

 

The nine educational service districts govern and jointly operate the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC) through an interlocal agreement.  The WSIPC provides technology services, such as data management and compliance reporting, to school districts and educational service districts who are members of the cooperative.
Summary of Bill:

The Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC) is required to create a confidential, voluntary online survey for parents or guardians of children enrolled in public schools that transfer to another public school, transfer to a private school, or that withdraw for home schooling.  The stated purposes of the survey are to:  (1) collect data about why parents and guardians transfer or withdraw students from public schools; and (2) use the data to better meet the needs of students and their parents or guardians.  Public schools are encouraged to notify parents or guardians of the survey.  The survey must be operational by September 1, 2025.

 

The WSIPC must provide an annual summary of the prior year's responses to the public schools and school districts from which students are transferred or withdrawn, as well as to the Legislature.  The WSIPC must also post an aggregate summary of the survey data on its website every year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.