RCW ch. 28A.600 — Revised Code of Washington Chapter 28A.600 RCW — Students

RCW 28A.600.006 Condensed compliance reports—Second-class districts. 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 45.] NOTES: Conflict with federal requirements— RCW 28A.600.010 Enforcement of rules of conduct—Due process guarantees—Computation of days for short-term and long-term suspensions. Every board of directors, unless otherwise specifically provided by law, shall: (1) Enforce the rules prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction for the government of schools, pupils, and certificated employees. (2) Adopt and make available to each pupil, teacher and parent in the district reasonable written rules regarding pupil conduct, discipline, and rights, including but not limited to short-term suspensions as referred to in RCW 28A.600.015 and suspensions in excess of ten consecutive days. Such rules shall not be inconsistent with any of the following: Federal statutes and regulations, state statutes, common law, and the rules of the superintendent of public instruction. The board's rules shall include such substantive and procedural due process guarantees as prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.600.015. When such rules are made available to each pupil, teacher, and parent, they shall be accompanied by a detailed description of rights, responsibilities, and authority of teachers and principals with respect to the discipline of pupils as prescribed by state statutory law, the superintendent of public instruction, and the rules of the school district. For the purposes of this subsection, computation of days included in "short-term" and "long-term" suspensions shall be determined on the basis of consecutive school days. (3) Suspend, expel, or discipline pupils in accordance with RCW 28A.600.015. [ 2006 c 263 s 901; 1997 c 265 s 4; 1990 c 33 s 496; 1979 ex.s. c 173 s 2; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 97 s 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 254 s 1; 1971 ex.s. c 268 s 1; 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.58.101. Prior: 1969 c 53 s 1, part; 1967 ex.s. c 29 s 1, part; 1967 c 12 s 1, part; 1965 ex.s. c 49 s 1, part; 1963 c 104 s 1, part; 1963 c 5 s 1, part; 1961 c 305 s 1, part; 1961 c 237 s 1, part; 1961 c 66 s 1, part; 1955 c 68 s 2, part. Formerly RCW 28A.58.101, 28.58.100(2), (6).] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.015 Expulsions and suspensions—Rules incorporating due process—Short-term and long-term suspensions—Emergency removals—Discretionary discipline. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt and distribute to all school districts lawful and reasonable rules prescribing the substantive and procedural due process guarantees of pupils in the common schools. Such rules shall authorize a school district to use informal due process procedures in connection with the short-term suspension of students to the extent constitutionally permissible: PROVIDED, That the superintendent of public instruction deems the interest of students to be adequately protected. When a student suspension or expulsion is appealed, the rules shall authorize a school district to impose the suspension or expulsion temporarily after an initial hearing for no more than 10 consecutive school days or until the appeal is decided, whichever is earlier. Any days that the student is temporarily suspended or expelled before the appeal is decided shall be applied to the term of the student suspension or expulsion and shall not limit or extend the term of the student suspension or expulsion. An expulsion or suspension of a student may not be for an indefinite period of time. (2) Short-term suspension procedures may be used for suspensions of students up to and including, 10 consecutive school days. (3) Emergency removals must end or be converted to another form of corrective action within ten school days from the date of the emergency removal from school. Notice and due process rights must be provided when an emergency removal is converted to another form of corrective action. (4) School districts may not impose long-term suspension or expulsion as a form of discretionary discipline. (5) Any imposition of discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline is subject to the bar on suspending the provision of educational services pursuant to subsection (8) of this section. (6) As used in this chapter, "discretionary discipline" means a disciplinary action taken by a school district for student behavior that violates rules of student conduct adopted by a school district board of directors under RCW 28A.600.010 and this section, but does not constitute action taken in response to any of the following: (a) A violation of RCW 28A.600.420; (b) An offense in RCW 13.04.155; (c) Two or more violations of RCW 9A.46.120, 9.41.280, 28A.600.455, 28A.635.020, or 28A.635.060 within a three-year period; or (d) Behavior that adversely impacts the health or safety of other students or educational staff. (7) Except as provided in RCW 28A.600.420, school districts are not required to impose long-term suspension or expulsion for behavior that constitutes a violation or offense listed under subsection (6)(a) through (d) of this section and should first consider alternative actions. (8) School districts may not suspend the provision of educational services to a student as a disciplinary action. A student may be excluded from a particular classroom or instructional or activity area for the period of suspension or expulsion, but the school district must provide an opportunity for a student to receive educational services during a period of suspension or expulsion. (9) Nothing in this section creates any civil liability for school districts, or creates a new cause of action or new theory of negligence against a school district board of directors, a school district, or the state. [ 2023 c 242 s 9; 2016 c 72 s 105; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 302; 2006 c 263 s 701; 1996 c 321 s 2; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 97 s 1; 1971 ex.s. c 268 s 2. Formerly RCW 28A.305.160, 28A.04.132.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 28A.600.020 Exclusion of student from classroom—Written disciplinary procedures—Long-term suspension or expulsion. (1) The rules adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.600.010 shall be interpreted to ensure that the optimum learning atmosphere of the classroom is maintained, and that the highest consideration is given to the judgment of qualified certificated educators regarding conditions necessary to maintain the optimum learning atmosphere. (2) Any student who creates a disruption of the educational process in violation of the building disciplinary standards while under a teacher's immediate supervision may be excluded by the teacher from his or her individual classroom and instructional or activity area for all or any portion of the balance of the school day, or up to the following two days, or until the principal or designee and teacher have conferred, whichever occurs first. Except in emergency circumstances, the teacher first must attempt one or more alternative forms of corrective action. In no event without the consent of the teacher may an excluded student return to the class during the balance of that class or activity period or up to the following two days, or until the principal or his or her designee and the teacher have conferred. (3) In order to preserve a beneficial learning environment for all students and to maintain good order and discipline in each classroom, every school district board of directors shall provide that written procedures are developed for administering discipline at each school within the district. Such procedures shall be developed with the participation of parents and the community, and shall provide that the teacher, principal or designee, and other authorities designated by the board of directors, make every reasonable attempt to involve the parent or guardian and the student in the resolution of student discipline problems. Such procedures shall provide that students may be excluded from their individual classes or activities for periods of time in excess of that provided in subsection (2) of this section if such students have repeatedly disrupted the learning of other students. The procedures must be consistent with the rules of the superintendent of public instruction and must provide for early involvement of parents in attempts to improve the student's behavior. (4) The procedures shall assure, pursuant to RCW 28A.400.110, that all staff work cooperatively toward consistent enforcement of proper student behavior throughout each school as well as within each classroom. (5)(a) A principal shall consider imposing long-term suspension or expulsion as a sanction when deciding the appropriate disciplinary action for a student who, after July 27, 1997: (i) Engages in two or more violations within a three-year period of RCW 9A.46.120, 28A.600.455, 28A.600.460, 28A.635.020, 28A.600.020, 28A.635.060, or 9.41.280; or (ii) Engages in one or more of the offenses listed in RCW 13.04.155. (b) The principal shall communicate the disciplinary action taken by the principal to the school personnel who referred the student to the principal for disciplinary action. (6) Any corrective action involving a suspension or expulsion from school for more than ten days must have an end date of not more than the length of an academic term, as defined by the school board, from the time of corrective action. Districts shall make reasonable efforts to assist students and parents in returning to an educational setting prior to and no later than the end date of the corrective action. Where warranted based on public health or safety, a school may petition the superintendent of the school district, pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, for authorization to exceed the academic term limitation provided in this subsection. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules outlining the limited circumstances in which a school may petition to exceed the academic term limitation, including safeguards to ensure that the school district has made every effort to plan for the student's return to school. School districts shall report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction the number of petitions made to the school board and the number of petitions granted on an annual basis. (7) Nothing in this section prevents a public school district, educational service district, the Washington center for deaf and hard of hearing youth, or the state school for the blind if it has suspended or expelled a student from the student's regular school setting from providing educational services to the student in an alternative setting or modifying the suspension or expulsion on a case-by-case basis. An alternative setting should be comparable, equitable, and appropriate to the regular education services a student would have received without the exclusionary discipline. Example alternative settings include alternative high schools, one-on-one tutoring, and online learning. [ 2019 c 266 s 22; 2016 c 72 s 106; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 303; 2006 c 263 s 706; 1997 c 266 s 11; 1990 c 33 s 497; 1980 c 171 s 1; 1972 ex.s. c 142 s 5. Formerly RCW 28A.58.1011.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 28A.600.022 Suspended or expelled students—Reengagement plan. (1) School districts should make efforts to have suspended or expelled students return to an educational setting as soon as possible. School districts must convene a meeting with the student and the student's parents or guardians within twenty days of the student's long-term suspension or expulsion, but no later than five days before the student's enrollment, to discuss a plan to reengage the student in a school program. Families must have access to, provide meaningful input on, and have the opportunity to participate in a culturally sensitive and culturally responsive reengagement plan. (2) In developing a reengagement plan, school districts should consider shortening the length of time that the student is suspended or expelled, other forms of corrective action, and supportive interventions that aid in the student's academic success and keep the student engaged and on track to graduate. School districts must create a reengagement plan tailored to the student's individual circumstances, including consideration of the incident that led to the student's long-term suspension or expulsion. The plan should aid the student in taking the necessary steps to remedy the situation that led to the student's suspension or expulsion. (3) Any reengagement meetings conducted by the school district involving the suspended or expelled student and his or her parents or guardians are not intended to replace a petition for readmission. [ 2016 c 72 s 107; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 308.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 28A.600.025 Students' rights of religious expression—Duty of superintendent of public instruction to inform school districts. (1) The First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article I, sections 5 and 11 of the Washington state Constitution guarantee that students retain their rights of free speech and free exercise of religion, notwithstanding the student's enrollment and attendance in a common school. These rights include, but are not limited to, the right of an individual student to freely express and incorporate the student's religious beliefs and opinions where relevant or appropriate in any and all class work, homework, evaluations or tests. School personnel may not grade the class work, homework, evaluation, or test on the religious expression but may grade the student's performance on scholastic content such as spelling, sentence structure, and grammar, and the degree to which the student's performance reflects the instruction and objectives established by the school personnel. School personnel may not subject an individual student who expresses religious beliefs or opinions in accordance with this section to any form of retribution or negative consequence and may not penalize the student's standing, evaluations, or privileges. An employee of the school district may not censure a student's expression of religious beliefs or opinions, when relevant or appropriate, in any class work, homework, evaluations or tests, extracurricular activities, or other activities under the sponsorship or auspices of the school district. (2) This section is not intended to impose any limit on the exchange of ideas in the common schools of this state. No officer, employee, agent, or contractor of a school district may impose his or her religious beliefs on any student in class work, homework, evaluations or tests, extracurricular activities, or other activities under the auspices of the school district. (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall distribute to the school districts information about laws governing students' rights of religious expression in school. [ 1998 c 131 s 2.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.027 Student expression in school-sponsored media. (1) Student editors of school-sponsored media are responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of the media subject to the limitations of subsection (2) of this section. This subsection does not prevent a student media adviser from teaching professional standards of English and journalism to the student journalists. A student media adviser may not be terminated, transferred, removed, or otherwise disciplined for complying with this section. (2) School officials may only prohibit student expression that: (a) Is libelous or slanderous; (b) Is an unwarranted invasion of privacy; (c) Violates federal or state laws, rules, or regulations; (d) Incites students to violate federal or state laws, rules, or regulations; (e) Violates school district policy or procedure related to harassment, intimidation, or bullying pursuant to *RCW 28A.300.285 or the prohibition on discrimination pursuant to RCW 28A.642.010; (f) Inciting of students so as to create a clear and present danger of: (i) The commission of unlawful acts on school premises; (ii) The violation of lawful school district policy or procedure; or (iii) The material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school. A school official must base a forecast of material and substantial disruption on specific facts, including past experience in the school and current events influencing student behavior, and not on undifferentiated fear or apprehension; or (g) Is in violation of the federal communications act or applicable federal communication commission rules or regulations. (3) Political expression by students in school-sponsored media shall not be deemed the use of public funds for political purposes, for purposes of the prohibitions of RCW 29B.40.250. (4) Any student, individually or through his or her parent or guardian, enrolled in a public high school may file an appeal of any alleged violation of subsection (1) of this section pursuant to chapter 28A.645 RCW. (5) Expression made by students in school-sponsored media is not necessarily the expression of school policy. Neither a school official nor the governing board of the school or school district may be held responsible in any civil or criminal action for any expression made or published by students in school-sponsored media. (6) Each school district that includes a high school shall adopt a written student freedom of expression policy in accordance with this section. The policy may include reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression. (7) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "School-sponsored media" means any matter that is prepared, substantially written, published, or broadcast by student journalists, that is distributed or generally made available, either free of charge or for a fee, to members of the student body, and that is prepared under the direction of a student media adviser. "School-sponsored media" does not include media that is intended for distribution or transmission solely in the classrooms in which they are produced. (b) "Student journalist" means a student who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, or prepares information for dissemination in school-sponsored media. (c) "Student media adviser" means a person who is employed, appointed, or designated by the school to supervise, or provide instruction relating to, school-sponsored media. [ 2024 c 164 s 504; 2018 c 125 s 2.] NOTES: *Reviser's note: RCW 28A.600.030 Grading policies—Option to consider attendance. Each school district board of directors may establish student grading policies which permit teachers to consider a student's attendance in determining the student's overall grade or deciding whether the student should be granted or denied credit. Such policies shall take into consideration the circumstances pertaining to the student's inability to attend school. However, no policy shall be adopted whereby a grade shall be reduced or credit shall be denied for disciplinary reasons only, rather than for academic reasons, unless due process of law is provided as set forth by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.600.015. [ 2006 c 263 s 707; 1990 c 33 s 498; 1984 c 278 s 7. Formerly RCW 28A.58.195.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.035 Policies on secondary school access and egress. School district boards of directors shall review school district policies regarding access and egress by students from secondary school grounds during school hours. Each school district board of directors shall adopt a policy specifying any restrictions on students leaving secondary school grounds during school hours. [ 1995 c 312 s 82.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.040 Pupils to comply with rules and regulations. All pupils who attend the common schools shall comply with the rules and regulations established in pursuance of the law for the government of the schools, shall pursue the required course of studies, and shall submit to the authority of the teachers of such schools, subject to such disciplinary or other action as the local school officials shall determine. [ 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.58.200. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 263 s 6; RRS s 4690; prior: 1897 c 118 s 69; 1890 p 372 s 48. Formerly RCW 28A.58.200, 28.58.200.] RCW 28A.600.045 Comprehensive guidance and planning programs for students. (1) The legislature encourages each middle school, junior high school, and high school to implement a comprehensive guidance and planning program for all students. The purpose of the program is to support students as they navigate their education and plan their future; encourage an ongoing and personal relationship between each student and an adult in the school; and involve parents in students' educational decisions and plans. (2) A comprehensive guidance and planning program is a program that contains at least the following components: (a) A curriculum intended to provide the skills and knowledge students need to select courses, explore options, plan for their future, and take steps to implement their plans. The curriculum may include such topics as analysis of students' test results; diagnostic assessments of students' academic strengths and weaknesses; use of assessment results in developing students' short-term and long-term plans; assessments of student interests and aptitude; goal-setting skills; planning for high school course selection; independent living skills; exploration of options and opportunities for career and technical education at the secondary and postsecondary level; exploration of career opportunities in emerging and high-demand programs including apprenticeships; and postsecondary options and how to access them; (b) Regular meetings between each student and a teacher who serves as an advisor throughout the student's enrollment at the school; (c) Student-led conferences with the student's parents, guardians, or family members and the student's advisor for the purpose of demonstrating the student's accomplishments; identifying weaknesses; planning and selecting courses; and setting long-term goals; and (d) Data collection that allows schools to monitor students' progress. (3) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide support for comprehensive guidance and planning programs in public schools, including providing ongoing development and improvement of the curriculum described in subsection (2) of this section. [ 2008 c 170 s 303; 2006 c 117 s 2.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.050 State honors awards program established—Purpose. The Washington state honors awards program is hereby established for the purpose of promoting academic achievement among high school students enrolled in public or approved private high schools by recognizing outstanding achievement of students in academic core subjects. This program shall be voluntary on the part of each school district and each student enrolled in high school. [ 1985 c 62 s 1. Formerly RCW 28A.03.440.] NOTES: Washington scholars' program: RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150. RCW 28A.600.060 State honors awards program—Areas included. The recipients of the Washington state honors awards shall be selected based on student achievement in both verbal and quantitative areas, as measured by a test or tests of general achievement selected by the superintendent of public instruction, and shall include student performance in the academic core areas of English, mathematics, science, social studies, and languages other than English, which may be American Indian languages. The performance level in such academic core subjects shall be determined by grade point averages, numbers of credits earned, and courses enrolled in during the beginning of the senior year. [ 1993 c 371 s 4; 1991 c 116 s 22; 1985 c 62 s 2. Formerly RCW 28A.03.442.] RCW 28A.600.070 State honors awards program—Rules. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the establishment and administration of the Washington state honors awards program. The rules shall establish: (1) The test or tests of general achievement that are used to measure verbal and quantitative achievement, (2) academic subject performance levels, (3) timelines for participating school districts to notify students of the opportunity to participate, (4) procedures for the administration of the program, and (5) the procedures for providing the appropriate honors award designation. [ 1991 c 116 s 23; 1985 c 62 s 3. Formerly RCW 28A.03.444.] RCW 28A.600.080 State honors awards program—Materials—Recognition by business and industry encouraged. The superintendent of public instruction shall provide participating high schools with the necessary materials for conferring honors. The superintendent of public instruction shall require participating high schools to encourage local representatives of business and industry to recognize students in their communities who receive an honors designation based on the Washington state honors awards program. [ 1985 c 62 s 4. Formerly RCW 28A.03.446.] RCW 28A.600.100 Washington scholars' program—Purpose. Each year high schools in the state of Washington graduate a significant number of students who have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic achievement. The purpose of RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 is to establish a consistent and uniform program which will recognize and honor the accomplishments of these students; encourage and facilitate privately funded scholarship awards among them; stimulate the recruitment of outstanding students to Washington public and private colleges and universities; and allow educational and legislative leaders, as well as the governor, to reaffirm the importance of educational excellence to the future of this state. [ 1990 c 33 s 499; 1985 c 341 s 14; 1981 c 54 s 1. Formerly RCW 28A.58.820.] NOTES: Severability— RCW 28A.600.110 Washington scholars' program—Established—Scope. There is established by the legislature of the state of Washington the Washington state scholars program. The purposes of this program annually are to: (1) Provide for the selection of three seniors residing in each legislative district in the state graduating from high schools who have distinguished themselves academically among their peers, except that during fiscal year 2007, no more than two seniors plus one alternate may be selected. (2) Maximize public awareness of the academic achievement, leadership ability, and community contribution of Washington state public and private high school seniors through appropriate recognition ceremonies and events at both the local and state level. (3) Provide a listing of the Washington scholars to all Washington state public and private colleges and universities to facilitate communication regarding academic programs and scholarship availability. (4) Make available a state level mechanism for utilization of private funds for scholarship awards to outstanding high school seniors. (5) Provide, on written request and with student permission, a listing of the Washington scholars to private scholarship selection committees for notification of scholarship availability. (6) Permit a waiver of tuition and services and activities fees as provided for in *RCW 28B.15.543 and grants under RCW 28B.76.660. [ 2005 c 518 s 915; 2004 c 275 s 46; 1994 c 234 s 4; 1988 c 210 s 4; 1987 c 465 s 1; 1981 c 54 s 2. Formerly RCW 28A.58.822.] NOTES: *Reviser's note: RCW 28A.600.120 Washington scholars' program—Administration—Cooperation with other agencies. The office of student financial assistance shall have the responsibility for administration of the Washington scholars program. The program will be developed cooperatively with the Washington association of secondary school principals, a voluntary professional association of secondary school principals. The cooperation of other state agencies and private organizations having interest and responsibility in public and private education shall be sought for planning assistance. [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 126; 1985 c 370 s 32; 1981 c 54 s 3. Formerly RCW 28A.58.824.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.130 Washington scholars' program—Planning committee—Composition—Duties. The office of student financial assistance shall establish a planning committee to develop criteria for screening and selection of the Washington scholars each year in accordance with RCW 28A.600.110(1). It is the intent that these criteria shall emphasize scholastic achievement but not exclude such criteria as leadership ability and community contribution in final selection procedures. The Washington scholars planning committee shall have members from selected state agencies and private organizations having an interest and responsibility in education, including but not limited to, the office of superintendent of public instruction, the council of presidents, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the Washington friends of higher education. [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 127; 2006 c 263 s 916; 1995 1st sp.s. c 5 s 1; 1990 c 33 s 500; 1985 c 370 s 33; 1981 c 54 s 4. Formerly RCW 28A.58.826.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.140 Washington scholars' program—Principals' association to submit names to office of student financial assistance. Each year on or before March 1st, the Washington association of secondary school principals shall submit to the office of student financial assistance the names of graduating senior high school students who have been identified and recommended to be outstanding in academic achievement by their school principals based on criteria to be established under RCW 28A.600.130. [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 128; 1990 c 33 s 501; 1985 c 370 s 34; 1981 c 54 s 5. Formerly RCW 28A.58.828.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.150 Washington scholars' program—Selection of scholars and scholars-alternates—Notification process—Certificates—Awards ceremony. Each year, three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate shall be selected from the students nominated under RCW 28A.600.140, except that during fiscal year 2007, no more than two scholars plus one alternate may be selected. The office of student financial assistance shall notify the students so designated, their high school principals, the legislators of their respective districts, and the governor when final selections have been made. The office, in conjunction with the governor's office, shall prepare appropriate certificates to be presented to the Washington scholars and the Washington scholars-alternates. An awards ceremony at an appropriate time and place shall be planned by the office in cooperation with the Washington association of secondary school principals, and with the approval of the governor. [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 129; 2005 c 518 s 916; 1999 c 159 s 2; 1985 c 370 s 35; 1981 c 54 s 6. Formerly RCW 28A.58.830.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.160 Educational pathways. Any middle school, junior high school, or high school using educational pathways shall ensure that all participating students will continue to have access to the courses and instruction necessary to meet admission requirements at baccalaureate institutions. Students shall be allowed to enter the educational pathway of their choice. Before accepting a student into an educational pathway, the school shall inform the student's parent of the pathway chosen, the opportunities available to the student through the pathway, and the career objectives the student will have exposure to while pursuing the pathway. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this section unless a parent or guardian specifically requests information to be provided in written form. Parents and students dissatisfied with the opportunities available through the selected educational pathway shall be provided with the opportunity to transfer the student to any other pathway provided in the school. Schools may not develop educational pathways that retain students in high school beyond the date they are eligible to graduate, and may not require students who transfer between pathways to complete pathway requirements beyond the date the student is eligible to graduate. Educational pathways may include, but are not limited to, programs such as worksite learning, internships, career and technical education, running start, college in the high school, and preparation for technical college, community college, or university education. [ 2022 c 75 s 5. Prior: 2009 c 556 s 14; 2009 c 450 s 6; 1998 c 225 s 2.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.190 Youth sports—Concussion and head injury guidelines—Injured athlete restrictions—Short title. (1)(a) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. The centers for disease control and prevention estimates that as many as three million nine hundred thousand sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed. (b) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority occurs without loss of consciousness. (c) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of head injury leaves the young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death. The legislature recognizes that, despite having generally recognized return to play standards for concussion and head injury, some affected youth athletes are prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in the state of Washington. (2) Each school district's board of directors shall work in concert with the Washington interscholastic activities association to develop the guidelines and other pertinent information and forms to inform and educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury including continuing to play after concussion or head injury. On a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the youth athlete and the athlete's parent and/or guardian prior to the youth athlete's initiating practice or competition. (3) A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from competition at that time. (4) A youth athlete who has been removed from play may not return to play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussion and receives written clearance to return to play from that health care provider. The health care provider may be a volunteer. A volunteer who authorizes a youth athlete to return to play is not liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of such care, other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. (5) This section may be known and cited as the Zackery Lystedt law. [ 2009 c 475 s 2.] RCW 28A.600.192 Diagnosed concussions—Annual reports by public schools. (1) Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, public schools must annually report information about each diagnosed concussion sustained by a student during athletic and other activities using a procedure developed by the department of health under RCW 43.70.435. (2) At a minimum, the following information must be reported: Student's grade and gender, whether the student had a previous concussion, the event date and location of the diagnosed concussion, the type and level of activity that the student was participating in at the time of the event, whether it was a practice or competition, any known cause of the event, when during the activity the injury occurred, whether protective equipment was worn on the injured student's head at the time of the event, the type of surface on which the event occurred, who initially examined the student at the time of the event, whether the student was removed from the activity at the time of the event, and follow-up information related to whether the student was given a written authorization to return to the activity by the end of the season in which the event occurred and the amount of time before the student was authorized to return to the learning environment. [ 2020 c 347 s 1.] RCW 28A.600.195 Sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes—Online pamphlet—Online prevention program for coaches. (1) The Washington interscholastic activities association shall work with member schools' board of directors, a nonprofit organization that educates communities about sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes, and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology to develop and make available an online pamphlet that provides youth athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet must include information on the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs, prevention, and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet shall be posted on the office of the superintendent of public instruction's website. (2) The Washington interscholastic activities association shall work with member schools' board of directors, an organization that provides educational training for safe participation in athletic activity, and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches. (3) On a yearly basis, prior to participating in an interscholastic athletic activity a sudden cardiac arrest form stating that the online pamphlet was reviewed shall be signed by the youth athlete and the athlete's parents and/or guardian and returned to the school. (4) Every three years, prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity coaches shall complete the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program described in this section. Coaches shall provide a certificate showing completion of the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program to the school. [ 2015 c 26 s 3.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.200 Interschool athletic and other extracurricular activities for students—Authority to regulate and impose penalties—Delegation of authority—Conditions. Each school district board of directors is hereby granted and shall exercise the authority to control, supervise and regulate the conduct of interschool athletic activities and other interschool extracurricular activities of an athletic, cultural, social or recreational nature for students of the district. A board of directors may delegate control, supervision and regulation of any such activity to the Washington interscholastic activities association or any other voluntary nonprofit entity and compensate such entity for services provided, subject to the following conditions: (1) The voluntary nonprofit entity shall not discriminate in connection with employment or membership upon its governing board, or otherwise in connection with any function it performs, on the basis of race, creed, national origin, sex or marital status; (2)(a) Any rules and policies adopted and applied by the voluntary nonprofit entity that governs student participation in any interschool activity shall be written; and (b) Such rules and policies shall provide for notice of the reasons and a fair opportunity to contest such reasons prior to a final determination to reject a student's request to participate in or to continue in an interschool activity. (3)(a) The association or other voluntary nonprofit entity is authorized to impose penalties for rules violations upon coaches, school district administrators, school administrators, and students, as appropriate, to punish the offending party or parties; (b) No penalty may be imposed on a student or students unless the student or students knowingly violated the rules or unless a student gained a significant competitive advantage or materially disadvantaged another student through a rule violation; (c) Any penalty that is imposed for rules violations must be proportional to the offense; (d) Any decision resulting in a penalty shall be considered a decision of the school district conducting the activity in which the student seeks to participate or was participating and may be appealed pursuant to RCW 28A.600.205 and 28A.645.010 through 28A.645.030. (4) The school districts, Washington interscholastic activities association districts, and leagues that participate in the interschool extracurricular activities shall not impose more severe penalties for rule violations than can be imposed by the rules of the association or the voluntary nonprofit entity. (5) As used in this section and RCW 28A.600.205, "knowingly" means having actual knowledge of or acting with deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard for the prohibition involved. [ 2012 c 155 s 2; 2006 c 263 s 904; 1990 c 33 s 502; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 32 s 1. Formerly RCW 28A.58.125.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 28A.600.205 Interscholastic activities—Appeals from noneligibility issues—Appeals committee—Appeals to Washington interscholastic activities association executive board—Limitations on penalties and sanctions. (1)(a) The Washington interscholastic activities association shall establish a nine-person appeals committee to address appeals of noneligibility issues. The committee shall be comprised of the secretary from each of the activity districts of the Washington interscholastic activities association. The committee shall begin hearing appeals by July 1, 2006. No committee member may participate in the appeal process if the member was involved in the activity that was the basis of the appeal. (b) Any penalty or sanction that is imposed or upheld by the appeals committee must be proportional to the offense and must be imposed upon only the offending individual or individuals, including coaches, school district administrators, school administrators, and students. However, only the Washington interscholastic activities association executive board has the authority to remove a team from postseason competition. Should a school violate a Washington interscholastic activities association rule, that violation does not automatically remove that school's team from postseason competition. Penalties levied against coaches and school programs must be considered before removing a team from postseason competition. Removal of a team from postseason competition must be the last option. (2)(a) A decision of the appeals committee may be appealed to the executive board of the association. If a matter is appealed to the executive board, then the board shall conduct a de novo review of the matter before making a decision. (b) Any penalty or sanction that is imposed or upheld by the executive board must be proportional to the offense and must be imposed upon only the offending individual or individuals including coaches, school district administrators, school administrators, or students. However, only the Washington interscholastic activities association executive board has the authority to remove a team from postseason competition. Should a school violate a Washington interscholastic activities association rule, that violation does not automatically remove that school's team from postseason competition. Penalties levied against coaches and school programs must be considered before removing a team from postseason competition. Removal of a team from postseason competition must be the last option. (c) If a rule violation is reported to the association within ten days of the relevant postseason play, then the only review shall be conducted by the executive board of the Washington interscholastic activities association so that a decision can be rendered in a timely manner. The executive board must take all possible actions to render a decision before the postseason play takes place. [ 2012 c 155 s 3; 2006 c 263 s 905.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 28A.600.207 Extracurricular activities—Streamlining fee collection. (1) The process for charging and collecting associated student body card fees, school-based athletic program fees, optional noncredit school club fees, and other fees from students in grades nine through twelve who are low income must be identical to the process for charging and collecting fees from other students in grades nine through twelve, except that the fee waivers described under RCW 28A.325.010 must be automatically applied where applicable. (2) The legislature recommends, but does not require, that the requirements under subsection (1) of this section are made applicable to students in grades six through eight. [ 2020 c 13 s 8.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 28A.600.210 School locker searches—Findings. The legislature finds that illegal drug activity and weapons in schools threaten the safety and welfare of school children and pose a severe threat to the state educational system. School officials need authority to maintain order and discipline in schools and to protect students from exposure to illegal drugs, weapons, and contraband. Searches of school-issued lockers and the contents of those lockers is a reasonable and necessary tool to protect the interests of the students of the state as a whole. [ 1989 c 271 s 244. Formerly RCW 28A.67.300.] NOTES: Severability— RCW 28A.600.220 School locker searches—No expectation of privacy. No right nor expectation of privacy exists for any student as to the use of any locker issued or assigned to a student by a school and the locker shall be subject to search for illegal drugs, weapons, and contraband as provided in RCW 28A.600.210 through 28A.600.240. [ 1990 c 33 s 503; 1989 c 271 s 245. Formerly RCW 28A.67.310.] NOTES: Severability— RCW 28A.600.230 School locker searches—Authorization—Limitations. (1) A school principal, vice principal, or principal's designee may search a student, the student's possessions, and the student's locker, if the principal, vice principal, or principal's designee has reasonable grounds to suspect that the search will yield evidence of the student's violation of the law or school rules. A search is mandatory if there are reasonable grounds to suspect a student has illegally possessed a firearm in violation of RCW 9.41.280. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the scope of the search is proper if the search is conducted as follows: (a) The methods used are reasonably related to the objectives of the search; and (b) Is not excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the suspected infraction. (3) A principal or vice principal or anyone acting under their direction may not subject a student to a strip search or body cavity search as those terms are defined in RCW 10.79.070. [ 1999 c 167 s 3; 1989 c 271 s 246. Formerly RCW 28A.67.320.] NOTES: Severability— RCW 28A.600.240 School locker searches—Notice and reasonable suspicion requirements. (1) In addition to the provisions in RCW 28A.600.230, the school principal, vice principal, or principal's designee may search all student lockers at any time without prior notice and without a reasonable suspicion that the search will yield evidence of any particular student's violation of the law or school rule. (2) If the school principal, vice principal, or principal's designee, as a result of the search, develops a reasonable suspicion that a certain container or containers in any student locker contain evidence of a student's violation of the law or school rule, the principal, vice principal, or principal's designee may search the container or containers according to the provisions of RCW 28A.600.230(2). [ 1990 c 33 s 504; 1989 c 271 s 247. Formerly RCW 28A.67.330.] NOTES: Severability— RCW 28A.600.270 Elective high school credit through paid work experience. (1) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year and in accordance with the requirements of this section, public high school students age 16 years and older may earn elective high school credit through paid work experience. (2) Proposals for earning elective high school credit through paid work experience must: (a) Be approved in advance and in writing by: The applicable school counselor, principal, or designee of the principal; and a work-based sponsor who will serve as the point of contact for the employer and participate in supervising the student during the student's employment; (b) Be reflected in the student's high school and beyond plan required by RCW 28A.230.090; (c) Include a student narrative describing how the paid work experience will enable the student to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the goals of basic education, including and in particular those essential to understanding the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities as provided in RCW 28A.150.210(4); and (d) Include provisions for demonstrating or otherwise assessing the student's: (i) Grade-level proficiencies on the state financial education learning standards for employment and income or financial decisions as provided in the state financial education learning standards adopted in RCW 28A.300.469; and (ii) Growth in proficiency in meeting the state financial education learning standards that occurred between prework and postwork experiences. (3) One-half elective high school credit will be awarded for each 180 hours of paid and verified work experience to students who, as determined by the appropriate school official, meet the requirements of this section. High school credit may not be awarded for paid work experiences occurring before the approval required by subsection (2) of this section. No student may earn more than two elective high school credits under this section. (4) Proposals for earning elective high school credit through paid work experience may only be approved at high schools that provide students with the opportunity to learn and master the state financial education learning standards adopted in RCW 28A.300.469. (5) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt and may periodically revise rules to implement this section. The rules must permit school districts to award credit to students in accordance with the requirements of this section for work occurring outside of the regular school calendar. No school may approve a student's proposal for earning elective high school credit through paid work experience under this section before rules required by this subsection have been adopted. [ 2023 c 154 s 2.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 28A.600.275 Dual credit programs and other advanced courses—Notification to parents. (1) Prior to course scheduling or course registration for the next school term, each public school that serves students in any of grades nine through 12 must provide all students and their parents or legal guardians with: Information about each available dual credit program and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit course and exam costs for students and their families. The information must be provided via email and other communication methods, and, to the extent feasible, must be translated into the primary language of each parent or legal guardian. (2) Public schools are encouraged to include in the notification required under subsection (1) of this section other information about advanced course taking that must be provided to parents and legal guardians under RCW 28A.320.195, 28A.600.287, and 28A.600.320. (3) As used in this section, "public school" has the same meaning as in RCW 28A.150.010. [ 2024 c 44 s 1.] RCW 28A.600.280 Dual credit programs—Annual report. (1) The education data center established in RCW 43.41.400, in collaboration with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, the Washington state apprenticeship and training council, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the student achievement council, and the public four-year institutions of higher education, shall prepare the dual credit report required by this section. (2) Annually, by September 1st, the education data center must submit the report to the appropriate committees of the legislature, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036. (3) The report must include: (a) Data about student participation rates, award of high school credit, award of postsecondary credit at an institution of higher education, and academic performance for each dual credit program; and (b) Data on the total unduplicated head count and percentage of students enrolled, students who have been awarded high school credit, and students who have been awarded postsecondary credit at an institution of higher education, in at least one dual credit program course. (4) Data described in subsection (3) of this section must be disaggregated by dual credit program, by the student categories and subcategories described in RCW 28A.300.042 (1) and (3), and by: (a) Gender; (b) Students who are dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW; (c) Students who are homeless as defined in RCW 43.330.702; and (d) Multilingual/English learners. (5)(a) The report must also recommend additional categories of data reporting and disaggregation. For each additional category, the report must describe: (i) The purpose for reporting on, or disaggregating by, the category; (ii) The specific metric or indicator to be used; (iii) Whether the specific metric or indicator is a new data point; and (iv) Which educational entities should be responsible for collecting the data. (b) The 2022 report must recommend whether to require: (i) Reporting of data related to the application of postsecondary credits earned through a dual credit program towards postsecondary credentials and degrees; and (ii) comparison of postsecondary credential and degree attainment between students who did or did not participate in a dual credit program, and between students who participated in different dual credit programs. (6) For the purposes of this section, "dual credit program" means running start under RCW 28A.600.300, college in the high school under RCW 28A.600.287, career and technical education dual credit, Cambridge international, international baccalaureate, advanced placement, and other programs in which a student qualifies for postsecondary and high school credit upon either successfully completing the course or passing an exam. [ 2022 c 75 s 1; 2012 c 229 s 505; 2009 c 450 s 2.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.285 Dual credit programs—Impact on financial aid eligibility—Guidelines. The superintendent of public instruction and the office of student financial assistance shall develop advising guidelines to assure that students and parents understand that college credits earned in high school dual credit programs may impact eligibility for financial aid. [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 131; 2009 c 450 s 4.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 28A.600.287 College in the high school program. (1) College in the high school is a dual credit program located on a high school campus or in a high school environment in which a high school student is able to earn both high school and college credit by completing college level courses with a passing grade. A college in the high school program must meet the accreditation requirements in RCW 28B.10.035 and the requirements in this section. (2) A college in the high school program may include both academic and career and technical education. (3) Ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, and students who have not yet received a high school diploma or its equivalent and are eligible to be in the ninth, 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, may participate in a college in the high school program. (4) A college in the high school program must be governed by a local contract between an institution of higher education and a school district, charter school, or state-tribal compact school, in compliance with the rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction under this section. The local contract must include the qualifications for students to enroll in a program course. (5) Enrollment information on persons registered under this section must be maintained by the institution of higher education separately from other enrollment information and may not be included in official enrollment reports, nor may such persons be considered in any enrollment statistics that would affect higher education budgetary determinations. (6) Each school district, charter school, and state-tribal compact school must award high school credit to a student enrolled in a program course if the student successfully completes the course. If no comparable course is offered by the school district, charter school, or state-tribal compact school, the chief administrator shall determine how many credits to award for the successful completion of the program course. The determination must be made in writing before the student enrolls in the program course. The awarded credit must be applied toward graduation requirements and subject area requirements. Evidence of successful completion of each program course must be included in the student's high school records and transcript. (7) Each institution of higher education offering college in the high school must: (a) Award college credit to a student enrolled in a program course and provide evidence of completion of each program course on the student's college transcript; (b) Grant undergraduate college credit as appropriate and applicable to the student's degree requirements; and (c) Provide course equivalencies for college in the high school courses and policy for awarding credit on the institution's website. (8)(a) A high school that offers a college in the high school program must provide general information about the program to all students in grades eight through 12 and to the parents and guardians of those students. (b) A high school that offers a college in the high school program must include the following information about program courses in a notification to parents and guardians of students in grades eight through 12, including by email and in beginning of the year packets, and in the high school catalogue or equivalent: (i) There is no fee for students to enroll in a program course for high school credit or for students to enroll in a program course for both high school and college credit; and (ii) A notification that enrolling in a program course for college credit automatically starts an official college transcript with the institution of higher education offering the program course regardless of student performance in the program course, and that college credit earned upon successful completion of a program course may count only as elective credit if transferred to another institution of higher education. (9) Full-time and part-time faculty at institutions of higher education, including adjunct faculty, are eligible to teach program courses. (10) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the administration of this section. The rules must be joint