H-1526              _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 773

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representative Valle

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to common schools; and amending RCW 28A.58.758.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 18, chapter 359, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as amended by section 7, chapter 250, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 28A.58.758 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) It is the intent and purpose of this section to guarantee that each common school district board of directors, whether or not acting through its respective administrative staff, be held accountable for the proper operation of their district to the local community and its electorate.  In accordance with the provisions of Title 28A RCW, as now or hereafter amended,  each common school district board of directors shall be vested with the final responsibility for the setting of policies ensuring quality in the content and extent of its educational program and that such program provide students with the opportunity to achieve those skills which are generally recognized as requisite to learning.

          (2) In conformance with the provisions of Title 28A RCW, as now or hereafter amended, it shall be the responsibility of each common school district board of directors, acting through its respective administrative staff, to:

          (a) Establish performance criteria and an evaluation process for its certificated personnel, including administrative staff, and for all programs constituting a part of such district's curriculum.

          (b) Determine the final assignment of staff, certificated or classified, according to board enumerated classroom and program needs.

          (c) Determine the amount of instructional hours necessary for any student to acquire a quality education in such district, in not less than an amount otherwise required in RCW 28A.58.754, or rules and regulations of the state board of education.

          (d) Determine the allocation of staff time, whether certificated or classified.

          (e) Establish final curriculum standards consistent with law and rules and regulations of the state board of education, relevant to the particular needs of district students or the unusual characteristics of the district, and ensuring a quality education for each student in the district.

          (f) Evaluate teaching materials, including text books, teaching aids, handouts, or other printed material, in public hearing upon complaint by parents, guardians or custodians of students who consider dissemination of such material to students objectionable.

          (((3) In keeping with the accountability purpose expressed in this section and to insure that the local community and electorate have access to information on the educational programs in the school districts, each school district's board of directors shall annually publish a descriptive guide to the district's common schools.  This guide shall be made available at each school in the district for examination by the public.  The guide shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

          (a) Criteria used for written evaluations of staff members pursuant to RCW 28A.67.065.

          (b) A summary of program objectives pursuant to RCW 28A.58.090.

          (c) Results of comparable testing for all schools within the district.

          (d) Budget information which will include the following:

          (i) Student enrollment.

          (ii) Number of full time equivalent personnel per school in the district itemized according to classroom teachers, instructional support, and building administration and support services, including itemization of such personnel by program.

          (iii) Number of full time equivalent personnel assigned in the district to central administrative offices, itemized according to instructional support, building and central administration, and support services, including itemization of such personnel by program.

          (iv) Total number of full time equivalent personnel itemized by classroom teachers, instructional support, building and central administration, and support services, including itemization of such personnel by program.

          (v) Special levy budget request presented by program and expenditure for purposes over and above those requirements identified in RCW 28A.58.754.))