As a 2022 interim project, Senator Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island), Chair of the Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education, asked committee staff to put together a document that identifies and categorizes references to parents and guardians in state law, rules, and model policies. The final document organizes these policies by topics such as attendance and truancy, classroom access and parental involvement, curriculum and instructional materials, special education, graduation, and more. 

A short summary of each law and the specific number of the model policy that the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) publishes is available. Specific policies and procedures for each district can be found on school district websites.

Senate committee staff also identified existing communications systems to parents, such as the OSPI website and the Office of Education Ombuds.

Senator Wellman said, “The impetus for this report came from SB 5858, a bill introduced in 2022 by Senator Perry Dozier (R-Waitsburg). This legislation sought to establish what they were referring to as a parent’s bill of rights related to their child’s public education. I merely asked that Senate Committee Services compile the expanding number of rights already enshrined across multiple RCWs, WACs, and statutes into a list. These findings were presented during the February 1, 2023 meeting of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

I am sharing this resource with you in hopes that you may utilize the contents herein to further discussions with constituents, parents and students, and anyone with an interest in Washington’s education system.”