Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, February 20, 2009

Bills would ease unfunded mandates on schools

Legislators say the intent is to free schools to concentrate on instruction.

By Jerry Cornfield
Herald Writer

 OLYMPIA -- Legislation lifting the burden of state mandates off the backs of public schools is moving through the state Senate, though without some of its original heft.

Wednesday night, the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education committee passed three bills that repeal, suspend or revise requirements the state imposes on districts without providing money to carry them out.

Among those proposed for elimination are mandates banning sale of junk food during school hours and observing Temperance and Good Citizenship Day.

The bills also repeal a requirement to prepare learning plans for students who were not successful on any or all of the content areas of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning or who may not be on track to graduate because of a lack of credits.

But lawmakers made some changes that allow some mandates to remain. For example, physical education classes and annual instruction on AIDS and the Holocaust will continue.

Also, transfer rules for children of school employees, adoption of safe school plans and development of policies to serve children with disabilities and illnesses such as diabetes won't be wiped out, as proposed in the original bills.

The authors of the bills, Sens. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell; Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens; and Joe McDermott, D-Seattle, want to deregulate public schools to free up money for the districts and time for teachers to focus on boosting student achievement.

The three bills are now in the Rules Committee awaiting referral to the full Senate.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA