Outline of the state of Washington
State
Washington
Complies with GFSA

Category
Firearms or Weapons on School Campuses

Category
Firearms or Weapons on School Campuses

State law complies with minimum requirements of the federal Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA).

Revised Code of Washington 28A.600.420 Firearms on school premises transportation or facilities—Penalty—Exemptions.

(1) Any elementary or secondary school student who is determined to have carried a firearm onto, or to have possessed a firearm on, public elementary or secondary school premises, public school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools, shall be expelled from school for not less than one year under RCW 28A.600.010. The superintendent of the school district, educational service district, or state school for the blind, or the director of the Washington state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss, or the director’s designee, may modify the expulsion of a student on a case-by-case basis. (2) For purposes of this section, “firearm” means a firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 921, and a “firearm” as defined in RCW 9.41.010. (3) This section shall be construed in a manner consistent with the individuals with disabilities education act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1401 et seq. (4) Nothing in this section prevents a public school district, educational service district, the Washington state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss, or the state school for the blind if it has expelled a student from such student’s regular school setting from providing educational services to the student in an alternative setting.

Policy Type
Statute

Revised Code of Washington 28A.600.420 Firearms on school premises, transportation, or facilities—Penalty—Exemptions.

(1) Any elementary or secondary school student who is determined to have carried a firearm onto, or to have possessed a firearm on, public elementary or secondary school premises, public school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools, shall be expelled from school for not less than one year under RCW 28A.600.010. The superintendent of the school district, educational service district, or state school for the blind, or the director of the Washington center for deaf and hard of hearing youth, or the director's designee, may modify the expulsion of a student on a case-by-case basis.

(2) For purposes of this section, “firearm” means a firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 921, and a “firearm” as defined in RCW 9.41.010.

(3) This section shall be construed in a manner consistent with the individuals with disabilities education act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1401 et seq.

(4) Nothing in this section prevents a public school district, educational service district, the Washington center for deaf and hard of hearing youth, or the state school for the blind if it has expelled a student from such student's regular school setting from providing educational services to the student in an alternative setting.

(5) This section does not apply to:

  • (a) Any student while engaged in military education authorized by school authorities in which rifles are used but not other firearms; or
  • (b) Any student while involved in a convention, showing, demonstration, lecture, or firearms safety course authorized by school authorities in which the rifles of collectors or instructors are handled or displayed but not other firearms; or
  • (c) Any student while participating in a rifle competition authorized by school authorities.

(6) A school district may suspend or expel a student for up to one year subject to subsections (1), (3), (4), and (5) of this section, if the student acts with malice as defined under RCW 9A.04.110 and displays an instrument that appears to be a firearm, on public elementary or secondary school premises, public school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools.

Policy Type
Statute

Revised Code of Washington 9.41.280 Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities—Penalty—Exceptions.

Any violation of subsection (1) of this section by elementary or secondary school students constitutes grounds for expulsion from the state’s public schools in accordance with RCW 28A.600.010. An appropriate school authority shall promptly notify law enforcement and the student’s parent or guardian regarding any allegation or indication of such violation.

Policy Type
Statute

Washington Administrative Code 392-400-820 Firearm exceptions.

As provided under RCW 28A.600.420:

  • (1) A school district must expel a student for no less than one year if the district has determined that the student has carried or possessed a firearm on school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools. The school district superintendent may modify the expulsion on a case-by-case basis.
  • (2) A school district may suspend or expel a student for up to one year if the student acts with malice, as defined under RCW 9A.04.110, and displays an instrument that appears to be a firearm on school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools.
  • (3) This section does not apply to:
  • (a) Any student while engaged in military education authorized by the school district in which rifles are used;
  • (b) Any student while involved in a convention, showing, demonstration, lecture, or firearms safety course authorized by the school district in which the rifles of collectors or instructors are handled or displayed; or
  • (c) Any student while participating in a rifle competition authorized by the school district.
Policy Type
Regulation