Curriculum establishment

AN ACT Relating to school districts' authority to establish their 1
curriculum; amending RCW 28A.150.230; and repealing RCW 28A.300.475.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 28A.150.230 and 2024 c 316 s 4 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) It is the intent and purpose of this section to guarantee 6
that each common school district board of directors, whether or not 7
acting through its respective administrative staff, be held 8
accountable for the proper operation of their district to the local 9
community and its electorate. In accordance with the provisions of 10
this title, as now or hereafter amended, each common school district 11
board of directors shall be vested with the final responsibility for 12
the setting of policies ensuring quality in the content and extent of 13
its educational program and that such program provide students with 14
the opportunity to achieve those skills which are generally 15
recognized as requisite to learning. 16
(2) In conformance with the provisions of this title, as now or 17
hereafter amended, it shall be the responsibility of each common 18
school district board of directors to adopt policies to:19
(a) Establish performance criteria and an evaluation process for 20
its superintendent, classified staff, certificated personnel, 21
S-0383.1
SENATE BILL 5135
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators McCune, Christian, Fortunato, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 01/03/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
p. 1 SB 5135
including administrative staff, and for all programs constituting a 1
part of such district's curriculum. Each district shall report 2
annually to the superintendent of public instruction the following 3
for each employee group listed in this subsection (2)(a): (i) 4
Evaluation criteria and rubrics; (ii) a description of each rating; 5
and (iii) the number of staff in each rating; 6
(b) Determine the final assignment of staff, certificated or 7
classified, according to board enumerated classroom and program needs 8
and data, based upon a plan to ensure that the assignment policy: (i) 9
Supports the learning needs of all the students in the district; and 10
(ii) gives specific attention to high-need schools and classrooms;11
(c) Provide information to the local community and its electorate 12
describing the school district's policies concerning hiring, 13
assigning, terminating, and evaluating staff, including the criteria 14
for evaluating teachers and principals; 15
(d) Determine the amount of instructional hours necessary for any 16
student to acquire a quality education in such district, in not less 17
than an amount otherwise required in RCW 28A.150.220, or rules of the 18
state board of education; 19
(e) Determine the allocation of staff time, whether certificated 20
or classified; 21
(f) Establish final curriculum standards ((consistent with law 22
and rules of the superintendent of public instruction, )) relevant to 23
the particular needs of district students or the unusual 24
characteristics of the district, and ensuring a quality education for 25
each student in the district; and 26
(g) Evaluate teaching materials, including text books, teaching 27
aids, handouts, or other printed material, upon complaint by parents, 28
guardians(([,])), or custodians of students who consider 29
dissemination of such material to students objectionable in 30
accordance with RCW 28A.320.235 and 28A.320.230. 31
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. RCW 28A.300.475 (Comprehensive sexual 32
health education) and 2020 c 188 s 1 (Referendum Measure No. 90, 33
approved November 3, 2020) & 2007 c 265 s 2 are each repealed.34
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p. 2 SB 5135