2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 28A.150.250: Annual basic education allocation of funds according to average FTE student enrollment — Student/teacher ratio standard.

From those funds made available by the legislature for the current use of the common schools, the superintendent of public instruction shall distribute annually as provided in RCW 28A.510.250 to each school district of the state operating a program approved by the state board of education an amount which, when combined with an appropriate portion of such locally available revenues, other than receipts from federal forest revenues distributed to school districts pursuant to RCW 28A.520.010 and 28A.520.020, as the superintendent of public instruction may deem appropriate for consideration in computing state equalization support, excluding excess property tax levies, will constitute a basic education allocation in dollars for each annual average full time equivalent student enrolled, based upon one full school year of one hundred eighty days, except that for kindergartens one full school year shall be one hundred eighty half days of instruction, or the equivalent as provided in RCW 28A.150.220.

Basic education shall be considered to be fully funded by those amounts of dollars appropriated by the legislature pursuant to RCW 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260 to fund those program requirements identified in RCW 28A.150.220 in accordance with the formula and ratios provided in RCW 28A.150.260 and those amounts of dollars appropriated by the legislature to fund the salary requirements of RCW 28A.150.100 and 28A.150.410.

Operation of a program approved by the state board of education, for the purposes of this section, shall include a finding that the ratio of students per classroom teacher in grades kindergarten through three is not greater than the ratio of students per classroom teacher in grades four and above for such district: PROVIDED, That for the purposes of this section, "classroom teacher" shall be defined as an instructional employee possessing at least a provisional certificate, but not necessarily employed as a certificated employee, whose primary duty is the daily educational instruction of students: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the state board of education shall adopt rules and regulations to insure compliance with the student/teacher ratio provisions of this section, and such rules and regulations shall allow for exemptions for those special programs and/or school districts which may be deemed unable to practicably meet the student/teacher ratio requirements of this section by virtue of a small number of students.

If a school district's basic education program fails to meet the basic education requirements enumerated in RCW 28A.150.250, 28A.150.260, and 28A.150.220, the state board of education shall require the superintendent of public instruction to withhold state funds in whole or in part for the basic education allocation until program compliance is assured: PROVIDED, That the state board of education may waive this requirement in the event of substantial lack of classroom space.

[1990 c 33 § 107; 1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 201; 1986 c 144 § 1; 1983 c 3 § 30; 1982 c 158 § 3; 1982 c 158 § 2; 1980 c 154 § 12; 1979 ex.s. c 250 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 359 § 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 211 § 1; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 9; 1973 c 46 § 2. See also 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 §§ 136, 137, 138 and 139. Prior: 1972 ex.s. c 124 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 105 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 294 § 19; 1969 c 138 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.41.130; prior: 1967 ex.s. c 140 § 3; 1965 ex.s. c 171 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 154 § 2; prior: (i) 1949 c 212 § 1, part; 1945 c 141 § 4, part; 1923 c 96 § 1, part; 1911 c 118 § 1, part; 1909 c 97 p 312 §§ 7-10, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 4940-4, part. (ii) 1949 c 212 § 2, part; 1945 c 141 § 5, part; 1909 c 97 p 312 §§ 7-10, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 4940-5, part. Formerly RCW 28A.41.130, 28.41.130.]

Intent -- Severability -- Effective date -- 1987 1st ex.s. c 2: See notes following RCW 84.52.0531.      Effective date -- 1986 c 144: "Section 1 of this act shall be effective September 1, 1987." [1986 c 144 § 2.]      Severability -- 1982 c 158: See note following RCW 28A.150.220.      Purpose -- Effective dates -- Savings -- Disposition of certain funds -- Severability -- 1980 c 154: See notes following chapter 82.45 RCW digest.      Effective date -- Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 250: See notes following RCW 28A.150.220.      Effective date -- Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 359: See notes following RCW 28A.150.200.      Emergency -- Effective date -- 1973 2nd ex.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.      Severability -- Effective dates and termination dates -- Construction -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.      Effective date -- 1972 ex.s. c 124: "This 1972 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety and the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 11 shall take effect immediately [February 25, 1972]; sections 1, 8, 9 and 10 hereof shall take effect July 1, 1973; and section 5 hereof shall take effect July 1, 1974." [1972 ex.s. c 124 § 12.]      Severability -- 1972 ex.s. c 124: "If any provision of this 1972 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1972 ex.s. c 124 § 13.]      Effective date -- 1972 ex.s. c 105: "This act except for section 4 will take effect July 1, 1973." [1972 ex.s. c 105 § 5.]      Severability -- 1972 ex.s. c 105: "If any provision of this 1972 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1972 ex.s. c 105 § 6.] Basic Education Act, RCW 28A.150.250 as part of: RCW 28A.150.200. Distribution of forest reserve funds -- As affects basic education allocation: RCW 28A.520.020.