Title 28A, COMMON SCHOOL PROVISIONS

Each educational service district shall post on its website a prominent link to the complaint resolution and referral access point maintained by the office of the education ombuds, described in RCW 43.06B.070. [ 2024 c 219 s 3.]

(1) Under the constitutional framework and the laws of the state of Washington, the governance structure for the state's public common school system is comprised of the following bodies: The legislature, the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of e…

(1) It is the purpose of this chapter to: (a) Incorporate into a single, comprehensive, school district organization law all essential provisions governing: (i) The formation and establishment of new school districts; (ii) The alteration of the boundaries of existing districts; a…

As used in this chapter: (1) "Change in the organization and extent of school districts" means the formation and establishment of new school districts, the dissolution of existing school districts, the alteration of the boundaries of existing school districts, or all of them. (2)…

A school district shall be organized in form and manner as hereinafter in this chapter provided, and shall be known as . . . . . . (insert here the name of the district) School District No. . . . ., . . . . . . county, state of Washington: PROVIDED, That all school districts now …

(1) A new school district may be formed comprising contiguous territory lying in either a single county or in two or more counties. The new district may comprise: (a) Two or more whole school districts; (b) Parts of two or more school districts; and/or (c) Territory that is not a…

In case the boundaries of any of the school districts are conflicting or incorrectly described, the educational service district board of directors, after due notice and a public hearing, shall change, harmonize, and describe them and shall so certify, with a complete transcript …

Any district boundary changes shall be filed for recording with the county auditor by the educational service district superintendent within thirty days after the changes have been approved in accordance with this chapter. The superintendent shall submit both legal descriptions a…

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall furnish to regional committees the services of employed personnel and the materials and supplies necessary to enable them to perform the duties imposed upon them by this chapter. (2) Costs that may be incurred by an educational s…

The powers and duties of each regional committee are to: (1) Hear and approve or disapprove proposals for changes in the organization and extent of school districts in the educational service districts when a hearing on a proposal has been requested under RCW 28A.315.199; (2) Mak…

(1) There is hereby created in each educational service district a committee which shall be known as the regional committee on school district organization, which committee shall be composed of not less than seven nor more than nine registered voters of the educational service di…

Persons possessing the status of any of the following positions shall not be eligible to be a member of a regional committee: The superintendent of public instruction, a member of the state board of education, an educational service district superintendent, a member of a board of…

Members of each regional committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. [ 1985 c 385 s 7; 1969 ex.s. c 176 s 118; 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.57.035. Prior: 1947 c 266 s 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1947…

Each regional committee shall organize by electing from its membership a chair and a vice chair. The educational service district superintendent shall be the secretary of the committee. Meetings of the committee shall be held upon call of the chair or of a majority of the members…

The superintendent of public instruction shall: (1) Aid regional committees in the performance of their duties by furnishing them with plans of procedure, standards, data, maps, forms, and other necessary materials and services essential to a study and understanding of the proble…

To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction, in cooperation with the educational service districts and the Washington state school directors' association, shall conduct an annual training meeting for the regional committees, educational service …

(1) A proposed change in school district organization by transfer of territory from one school district to another may be initiated by a petition in writing presented to the educational service district superintendent: (a) Signed by at least fifty percent plus one of the active r…

(1) Upon receipt of a petition to transfer territory pursuant to RCW 28A.315.195 or to dissolve a financially insolvent school district pursuant to RCW 28A.315.225, the educational service district superintendent shall notify in writing the affected districts that: (a) Each schoo…

(1) The chair of the regional committee shall schedule a hearing on the proposed transfer of territory or dissolution petition at a location in the educational service district within sixty calendar days of being notified under RCW 28A.315.199 (3) or (4). (2) Within thirty calend…

(1) Upon receipt by the educational service district superintendent of a written agreement by two or more school districts to the transfer of territory between the affected districts, or an agreement approved by the financial oversight committee regarding the annexation of a fina…

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall convene a financial oversight committee: (a) At the request of the board of directors of a financially insolvent district; (b) When the superintendent of public instruction determines a district is financially insolvent, after fi…

(1) In case any school district has an average enrollment of fewer than five kindergarten through eighth grade pupils during the preceding three consecutive school years or has not made a reasonable effort to maintain, during the preceding school year at least the minimum term of…

(1) As of the effective date of dissolution of a financially insolvent district, all existing employment contracts and collective bargaining agreements of the financially insolvent district shall be extinguished. (2) School districts that annex or receive territory from a financi…

(1) A proposed change in school district organization by consolidation of territory from two or more school districts to form a new school district may be initiated by: (a) A written petition presented to the educational service district superintendent signed by ten or more regis…

In determining an equitable adjustment of assets and liabilities, the negotiating school districts and the regional committee shall consider the following factors: (1) The number of school-age children residing in each school district and in each part of a district involved or af…

(1) The fact of the issuance of bonds by a school district, heretofore or hereafter, does not prevent changes in the organization and extent of school districts, regardless of whether or not such bonds or any part thereof are outstanding at the time of change. (2) In case of any …

If adjustments of bonded indebtedness are made between or among school districts in connection with the alteration of the boundaries of the school districts under this chapter, the order of the educational service district superintendent establishing the terms of adjustment of bo…

Notice of special elections as provided for in RCW 28A.315.265 shall be given by the county auditor as provided in RCW 29A.52.355. The notice of election shall state the purpose for which the election has been called and contain a description of the boundaries of the proposed new…

(1) If a special election is held to vote on a proposal or alternate proposals to form a new school district, the votes cast by the registered voters in each component district shall be tabulated separately. Any such proposition shall be considered approved only if it receives a …

If a proposal for the formation of a new school district and for adjustment of bonded indebtedness, or either, is rejected by the registered voters at a special election, the matter is terminated. [ 1999 c 315 s 706.]

(1) Each school district involved in or affected by any change made in the organization and extent of school districts under this chapter retains its corporate existence insofar as is necessary for the purpose, until the bonded indebtedness outstanding against it on and after the…

The duties in this chapter imposed upon and required to be performed by a regional committee and by an educational service district superintendent in connection with a change in the organization and extent of school districts and/or with the adjustment of the assets and liabiliti…

All proceedings that have been taken by any school district, educational service district governing body, or commission, or any officers thereof, for the purpose of effecting a dissolution, annexation, consolidation, or transfer of territory from one or more school districts to o…

(1) An appeal may be taken, as provided for in RCW 28A.645.010, to the superior court of the county in which a school district or any part thereof is situated on any question of adjustment of property and other assets and of liabilities provided for in this chapter. Judicial appe…

Any compliance reporting requirements as a result of laws in this chapter that apply to second-class districts may be submitted in accordance with RCW 28A.330.250. [ 2011 c 45 s 22.] Notes: Conflict with federal requirements—2011 c 45: See note following RCW 28A.330.250.

The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules to implement chapter 186, Laws of 2012. [ 2012 c 186 s 25.] Notes: Effective date—2012 c 186: See note following RCW 28A.315.025.

A school district shall constitute a body corporate and shall possess all the usual powers of a public corporation, and in that name and style may sue and be sued and transact all business necessary for maintaining school and protecting the rights of the district, and enter into …

(1) The board of directors of each school district may exercise the following: (a) The broad discretionary power to determine and adopt written policies not in conflict with other law that provide for the development and implementation of programs, activities, services, or practi…

Any compliance reporting requirements as a result of laws in this chapter that apply to second-class districts may be submitted in accordance with RCW 28A.330.250. [ 2011 c 45 s 23.] Notes: Conflict with federal requirements—2011 c 45: See note following RCW 28A.330.250.

Every school district shall be liable for any debts legally due, and for judgments against the district, and such district shall pay any such judgment or liability out of the proper school funds to the credit of the district. [ 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.58.020. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 28…

(1) The board of directors may change the name of the school district if: (a) Either ten percent of the registered voters of the district file a petition requesting that the name of the school district be changed and submit the proposed new name with the request to the board or t…

The board of directors of any school district may accept, receive and administer for scholarship and student aid purposes such gifts, grants, conveyances, devises and bequests of personal or real property, in trust or otherwise, for the use or benefit of the school district or it…

(1) The board of directors of a school district may contract with other school districts, educational service districts, public or private organizations, agencies, schools, or individuals to implement the board's powers and duties. The board of directors of a school district may …

Every board of directors shall have power to make such bylaws for their own government, and the government of the common schools under their charge, as they deem expedient, not inconsistent with the provisions of this title, or rules and regulations of the superintendent of publi…

The meetings of school district boards of directors are subject to the requirements of RCW 42.30.035(2). [ 2023 c 67 s 4.] Notes: Effective date—2023 c 67: See note following RCW 42.30.035.

The actual expenses of school directors in going to, returning from and attending upon directors' meetings or other meetings called or held pursuant to statute shall be paid. Likewise, the expenses of school superintendents and other school representatives chosen by the directors…