S-2233.1                   _______________________________________________

                                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5322

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Talmadge, Moyer and Winsley)

Read first time 03/03/93.

Requiring rules for minimum program standards for programs and teachers of highly capable students.

          AN ACT Relating to programs for highly capable students; amending RCW 28A.185.030; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.185 RCW.

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

        Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.185.030 and 1984 c 278 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

          Local school districts may establish and operate, either separately or jointly, programs for highly capable students.  Such authority shall include the right to employ and pay special instructors and to operate such programs jointly with a public institution of higher education.  Local school districts which establish and operate programs for highly capable students shall adopt identification procedures and provide educational opportunities as follows:

          (1) In accordance with rules ((and regulations)) adopted by the superintendent of public instruction, school districts shall implement procedures for nomination, assessment and selection of their most highly capable students.  Nominations shall be based upon data from teachers, other staff, parents, students, and members of the community.  Assessment shall be based upon a review of each student's capability as shown by multiple criteria intended to reveal, from a wide variety of sources and data, each student's unique needs and capabilities.  Selection shall be made by a broadly based committee of professionals, after consideration of the results of the multiple criteria assessment.

          (2) Students selected pursuant to procedures outlined in this section shall be provided, to the extent feasible, an educational opportunity which takes into account each student's unique needs and capabilities and the limits of the resources and program options available to the district, including those options which can be developed or provided by using funds allocated by the superintendent of public instruction for that purpose.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules establishing minimum program standards.  The rules may address issues including hours of service, if and when it is appropriate to combine programs for highly capable students and other students, and evaluation standards for highly capable students.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.185 RCW to read as follows:

          The state board of education shall adopt rules establishing the qualifications for certificated employees teaching highly capable students in a program for highly capable students.

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