Title 28A, Title 28A COMMON SCHOOL PROVISIONS

Public schools means the common schools as referred to in Article IX of the state Constitution, charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW, and those schools and institutions of learning having a curriculum below the college or university level as now or may be establi…

"Common schools" means schools maintained at public expense in each school district and carrying on a program from kindergarten through the twelfth grade or any part thereof including vocational educational courses otherwise permitted by law.[ 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.01.060. Prior…

(1) All of the state legal holidays set forth in RCW 1.16.050(1) are also school holidays and school may not be taught on these days.(2) No reduction from a teacher's time or salary may be made by reason of the fact that a school day happens to be one of the days referred to in t…

The administration of the public school system shall be entrusted to such state and local officials, boards, and committees as the state Constitution and the laws of the state shall provide.[ 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.02.020. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 230 s 2; RRS s 4519; prior: 1897 c 118…

"Superintendent of the school district", if there be no such superintendent, shall mean such other administrative or certificated employee as the school district board of directors shall so designate.[ 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.01.100. Formerly RCW 28A.01.100.]

(1) For the purposes of this section and RCW 28A.150.410 and 28A.400.200, "basic education certificated instructional staff" means all full-time equivalent classroom teachers, teacher-librarians, counselors, certificated student health services staff, and other certificated instr…

(1) Public education in Washington state has evolved since the enactment of the Washington basic education act of 1977. Decisions by the courts have played a part in this evolution, as have studies and research about education practices and education funding. The legislature find…

It is the intent of the legislature that specified policies and allocation formulas adopted under this chapter will constitute the legislature's definition of basic education under Article IX of the state Constitution once fully implemented. The legislature intends, however, to c…

(1) The program of basic education established under this chapter is deemed by the legislature to comply with the requirements of Article IX, section 1 of the state Constitution, which states that "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Basic education goal" means the student learning goals and the student knowledge and skills described under RCW 28A.150.210.(2) "Certificated administrative staff" mea…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definition in this section applies throughout RCW 28A.150.200 through 28A.150.295.(1) "Instructional hours" means those hours students are provided the opportunity to engage in educational activity planned by and under the direct…

A basic education is an evolving program of instruction that is intended to provide students with the opportunity to become responsible and respectful global citizens, to contribute to their economic well-being and that of their families and communities, to explore and understand…

The legislature also recognizes that certain basic values and character traits are essential to individual liberty, fulfillment, and happiness. However, these values and traits are not intended to be assessed or be standards for graduation. The legislature intends that local comm…

(1) In order for students to have the opportunity to develop the basic education knowledge and skills under RCW 28A.150.210, school districts must provide instruction of sufficient quantity and quality and give students the opportunity to complete graduation requirements that are…

(1) In addition to waivers authorized under RCW 28A.300.750, the superintendent of public instruction, in accordance with the criteria in subsection (2) of this section and criteria adopted by the state board of education under subsection (3) of this section, may grant waivers of…

(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 elec…

(1) It is the intended purpose of this section to guarantee that the certificated teaching and administrative staff in each common school district be held accountable for the proper and efficient conduct of classroom teaching in their school which will provide students with the o…

(1) From those funds made available by the legislature for the current use of the common schools, the superintendent of public instruction shall distribute annually as provided in RCW 28A.510.250 to each school district of the state operating a basic education instructional progr…

The purpose of this section is to provide for the allocation of state funding that the legislature deems necessary to support school districts in offering the minimum instructional program of basic education under RCW 28A.150.220. The allocation shall be determined as follows:(1)…

(1) To the extent that career and technical education funding allocations under RCW 28A.150.260 (4)(c) and (9) exceed general education funding allocations under RCW 28A.150.260, school districts may use the difference only for the career and technical education purposes, defined…

The board of directors of a school district may, by properly executed resolution, request that the superintendent of public instruction direct a portion of the district's basic education allocation be credited to the district's capital projects fund and/or bond redemption fund. M…

The basic education allocation, including applicable vocational entitlements and special education program money, generated under this chapter and under state appropriation acts by school districts for students enrolled in a technical college program established by an interlocal …

(1)(a) Beginning September 1, 2018, school districts may use local revenues only for documented and demonstrated enrichment of the state's statutory program of basic education as authorized in subsection (2) of this section.(b) Nothing in this section revises the definition or th…

Costs of acquisition of approved transportation equipment purchased prior to September 1, 1982, shall be reimbursed up to one hundred percent of the cost to be reimbursed over the anticipated life of the vehicle, as determined by the state superintendent: PROVIDED, That commencin…

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall have the power and duty to make such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper administration of this chapter and RCW 28A.160.150 through * 28A.160.220, 28A.300.170, and 28A.500.010 not inconsistent with the provision…

A general and uniform system of public schools embracing the common schools shall be maintained throughout the state of Washington in accordance with Article IX of the state Constitution.[ 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.02.010. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 230 s 1; RRS s 4518; prior: 1897 c 118 s …

The use of corporal punishment in the common schools is prohibited. The superintendent of public instruction shall develop and adopt a policy prohibiting the use of corporal punishment in the common schools. The policy shall be adopted and implemented in all school districts.[ 20…

(1) The board of directors of school districts may contract with alternative educational service providers for eligible students. Alternative educational service providers that the school district may contract with include, but are not limited to:(a) Other schools;(b) Alternative…

Basic and nonbasic education funding, including applicable vocational entitlements and special education program money, generated under this chapter and under state appropriations acts shall be allocated directly to the military department for a national guard youth challenge pro…

(1) Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, funding for voluntary all-day kindergarten programs shall be phased-in beginning with schools with the highest poverty levels, defined as those schools with the highest percentages of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch…

September is the month of the kindergartner. Each September elementary schools are encouraged to determine a method to celebrate new kindergartners as they begin their life in K-12 education.[ 2019 c 179 s 1.]

(1) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:(a) "Private school student" shall mean any student enrolled full time in a private school;(b) "School" shall mean any primary, secondary or vocational school;(c) "School funding authority" shall mean any non…

In the event of an unforeseen emergency, in the nature of either an unavoidable cost to a district or unexpected variation in anticipated revenues to a district, the state superintendent is authorized, for not to exceed two years, to make such an adjustment in the allocation of f…

(1) The state legislature shall, at each regular session in an odd-numbered year, appropriate for the current use of the common schools such amounts as needed for state support to school districts during the ensuing biennium for the program of basic education under RCW 28A.150.20…

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall submit to each regular session of the legislature during an odd-numbered year a programmed budget request for special education programs for students with disabilities. Funding for programs operated by local school districts shal…

(1)(a) To the extent necessary, funds shall be made available for safety net awards for districts with demonstrated needs for special education funding beyond the amounts provided through the special education funding formula under RCW 28A.150.390.(b) If the federal safety net aw…

State and county funds which may become due and apportionable to school districts shall be apportioned in such a manner that any apportionment factors used shall utilize data and statistics derived in the school year that such funds are paid: PROVIDED, That the superintendent of …

(1) Through the 2017-18 school year, the legislature shall establish for each school year in the appropriations act a statewide salary allocation schedule, for allocation purposes only, to be used to distribute funds for basic education certificated instructional staff salaries u…

(1) Beginning with the 2023 regular legislative session, and every four years thereafter, the legislature shall review and rebase state basic education compensation allocations compared to school district compensation data, regionalization factors, what inflationary measure is th…

(1) The legislature finds that while the state has the responsibility to provide for a general and uniform system of public schools, there is also a need for some diversity in the public school system. A successful system of public education must permit some variation among schoo…

(1) The superintendent of public instruction must convene and facilitate a stakeholder technical working group to develop a model salary grid for school district use in developing locally determined compensation plans for certificated instructional staff.(2) The grid is intended …

(1) Beginning with the 2018-19 school year, the legislature shall begin phasing in funding for professional learning days for certificated instructional staff. At a minimum, the state must allocate funding for:(a) One professional learning day in the 2018-19 school year;(b) Two p…

The superintendent of public instruction shall establish procedures to allow school districts to claim basic education allocation funds for students attending classes that are provided outside the regular school year to the extent such attendance is in lieu of attendance during t…

(1) Each local education agency or college district offering vocational educational programs shall establish local advisory committees to provide that agency or district with advice on current job needs and on the courses necessary to meet these needs.(2) The local program commit…

(1) In order to effectively serve students who are the subject of a dependency proceeding, education records shall be transmitted to the department of children, youth, and families, the appropriate federally recognized Indian tribe, or the state agency responsible for the impleme…

(1) Beginning in 2024, each school district that operates a high school shall annually transmit directory information for all enrolled high school students to the office of the superintendent of public instruction by November 1st.(2) The office of the superintendent of public ins…

Public school districts must comply with high-performance public building[s] requirements under RCW 39.35D.010, 39.35D.020, 39.35D.040, 39.35D.060, and 28A.150.530.[ 2005 c 12 s 9.]

(1) In adopting implementation rules, the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the department of enterprise services, shall review and modify the current requirement for an energy conservation report review by the department of enterprise services.(2) In ado…

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 3.]Notes:Conflict with federal requirements—2011 c 45: See note following RCW 28A.330.250.

(1) The following statewide indicators of educational system health are established:(a) The percentage of students demonstrating the characteristics of entering kindergartners in all six areas identified by the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills administered i…