The legislature recognizes that it has previously found that every three minutes an American child or adult is diagnosed with a potentially fatal blood disease. For many of these individuals, bone marrow transplantation is the only chance for survival. The legislature finds that 70 percent of patients do not have a fully matched donor in their family and rely on a registry to find an unrelated donor. The legislature further finds that 40 to 71 percent of individuals with diverse heritage never find a bone marrow match. The ultimate key to survivability lies in increasing the number of bone marrow donors across all ethnicities, which will increase the potential for a suitable match.
It is the intent of the legislature to continue to increase awareness of bone marrow donation by requiring school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal compact schools to offer instruction on this topic to high school students in at least one health class necessary for graduation. The legislature also intends for this instruction to be optional for elementary and middle school students.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 28A.230. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Each school district that serves students in any of grades nine through 12 must offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation to students as provided in this section. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation must be included in at least one health class necessary for graduation.
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Instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation under this section must be an instructional program provided by the national marrow donor program or other relevant nationally recognized organization.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction must post on its website a link to the instructional program described in this subsection (2).
Each school district that serves students in any of grades kindergarten through eight may offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation to students. The instruction described in subsection (2) of this section may be adapted to be age appropriate.
School districts may offer the instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation directly or arrange for the instruction to be provided by available community-based providers. The instruction is not required to be provided by certificated instructional staff.
This section modifies existing section 28A.710.040. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A charter school must operate according to the terms of its charter contract and the provisions of this chapter.
A charter school must:
Comply with local, state, and federal health, safety, parents' rights, civil rights, and nondiscrimination laws applicable to school districts and to the same extent as school districts, including but not limited to chapter 28A.642 RCW (discrimination prohibition) and chapter 28A.640 RCW (sexual equality);
Provide a program of basic education, that meets the goals in RCW 28A.150.210, including instruction in the essential academic learning requirements, and participate in the statewide student assessment system as developed under RCW 28A.655.070;
Provide instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation that satisfies the requirements of section 2 of this act;
Comply with the screening and intervention requirements under RCW 28A.320.260;
Employ certificated instructional staff as required in RCW 28A.410.025. Charter schools, however, may hire noncertificated instructional staff of unusual competence and in exceptional cases as specified in RCW 28A.150.203(7);
Comply with the employee record check requirements in RCW 28A.400.303;
Adhere to generally accepted accounting principles and be subject to financial examinations and audits as determined by the state auditor, including annual audits for legal and fiscal compliance;
Comply with the annual performance report under RCW 28A.655.110;
Be subject to the performance improvement goals adopted by the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.130;
Comply with the open public meetings act in chapter 42.30 RCW and public records requirements in chapter 42.56 RCW; and
Be subject to and comply with legislation enacted after December 6, 2012, that governs the operation and management of charter schools.
Charter public schools must comply with all state statutes and rules made applicable to the charter school in the school's charter contract, and are subject to the specific state statutes and rules identified in subsection (2) of this section. For the purpose of allowing flexibility to innovate in areas such as scheduling, personnel, funding, and educational programs to improve student outcomes and academic achievement, charter schools are not subject to, and are exempt from, all other state statutes and rules applicable to school districts and school district boards of directors. Except as provided otherwise by this chapter or a charter contract, charter schools are exempt from all school district policies.
A charter school may not engage in any sectarian practices in its educational program, admissions or employment policies, or operations.
Charter schools are subject to the supervision of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education, including accountability measures, to the same extent as other public schools, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
This section modifies existing section 28A.715.020. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A school that is the subject of a state-tribal education compact must operate according to the terms of its compact executed in accordance with RCW 28A.715.010.
Schools that are the subjects of state-tribal education compacts are exempt from all state statutes and rules applicable to school districts and school district boards of directors, except those statutes and rules made applicable under this chapter and in the state-tribal education compact executed under RCW 28A.715.010.
Each school that is the subject of a state-tribal education compact must:
Provide a curriculum and conduct an educational program that satisfies the requirements of RCW 28A.150.200 through 28A.150.240 and 28A.230.010 through 28A.230.195;
Provide instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation that satisfies the requirements of section 2 of this act;
Employ certificated instructional staff as required in RCW 28A.410.010, however such schools may hire noncertificated instructional staff of unusual competence and in exceptional cases as specified in RCW 28A.150.203(7);
Comply with the employee record check requirements in RCW 28A.400.303 and the mandatory termination and notification provisions of RCW 28A.400.320, 28A.400.330, 28A.405.470, and 28A.405.475;
Comply with nondiscrimination laws;
Adhere to generally accepted accounting principles and be subject to financial examinations and audits as determined by the state auditor, including annual audits for legal and fiscal compliance; and
Be subject to and comply with legislation enacted after July 28, 2013, governing the operation and management of schools that are the subject of a state-tribal education compact.
No such school may engage in any sectarian practices in its educational program, admissions or employment policies, or operations.
Nothing in this chapter may limit or restrict any enrollment or school choice options otherwise available under this title.