(1) The board of directors of school districts may contract with alternative educational service providers for eligible students. Alternative educational service providers that the school district may contract with include, but are not limited to:

• (a) Other schools;
• (b) Alternative education programs not operated by the school district;
• (c) Education centers;
• (d) Skills [Skill] centers;
• (e) The Washington national guard youth challenge program;
• (f) Dropout prevention programs; or
• (g) Other public or private organizations, excluding sectarian or religious organizations.

(2) Eligible students include students who are likely to be expelled or who are enrolled in the school district but have been suspended, are academically at risk, or who have been subject to repeated disciplinary actions due to behavioral problems.

(3) If a school district board of directors chooses to initiate specialized programs for students at risk of expulsion or who are failing academically by contracting out with alternative educational service providers identified in subsection (1) of this section, the school district board of directors and the organization must specify the specific learning Standard that students are expected to achieve. Placement of the student shall be jointly determined by the school district, the student’s parent or legal guardian, and the alternative educational service provider.

(4) For the purpose of this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for reporting and documenting enrollment. Students may reenter at the grade level appropriate to the student’s ability. Students who are sixteen years of age or older may take a test to earn a high school equivalency certificate as provided in RCW 28B.50.536 in accordance with rules adopted under RCW 28A.305.190.

(5) The board of directors of school districts may require that students who would otherwise be suspended or expelled attend schools or programs listed in subsection (1) of this section as a condition of continued enrollment in the school district.

(1) School district policies and procedures beginning in the 2019-20 school year. Before the commencement of the 2019-20 school year, a school district must adopt written policies and procedures for supporting students in meeting behavioral expectations and administering discipline in accordance with this chapter. The policies and procedures must:

• (i) Describe the types of educational services the school district offers to students during a suspension or expulsion and the procedures to be followed for the provision of educational services under WAC 392-400-610;

1) Educational services.

• (a) A school district may not suspend the provision of educational services to a student in response to behavioral violations.
• (b) During the suspension, expulsion, or emergency expulsion of a student, a school district must provide the student the opportunity to receive educational services. The educational services must enable the student to:
• (i) Continue to participate in the general education curriculum;
• (ii) Meet the educational Standard established within the district; and
• (iii) Complete subject, grade-level, and graduation requirements.
• (c) When providing a student the opportunity to receive educational services under this section, the school district must consider:
• (i) Meaningful input from the student, parents, and the student's teachers;
• (ii) Whether the student's regular educational services include English language development services, special education, accommodations and related services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or supplemental services designed to support the student's academic achievement; and
• (iii) Access to any necessary technology, transportation, or resources the student needs to participate fully in the educational services.
• (d) A school district may provide educational services to the student in an alternative setting or modify the suspension or expulsion on a case-by-case basis. An alternative setting should be comparable, equitable, and appropriate to the regular educational services a student would have received without the exclusionary discipline. Example alternative settings include alternative high schools, one-on-one tutoring, and online learning.

(3) Exclusions for up to five days. For students subject to suspension or emergency expulsion for up to five consecutive school days, a school district must provide at least the following:

• (a) Course work, including any assigned homework, from all of the student's regular subjects or classes;
• (b) Access to school personnel who can offer support to keep the student current with assignments and course work for all of the student's regular subjects or classes; and
• (c) An opportunity for the student to make up any assignments and tests missed during the period of suspension or emergency expulsion.

(4) Exclusions for six to ten days. For students subject to suspension or emergency expulsion for six to ten consecutive school days, a school district must provide at least the following:

• (a) Course work, including any assigned homework, from all of the student's regular subjects or classes;
• (b) Access to school personnel who can offer support to keep the student current with assignments and course work for all of the student's regular subjects or classes. School personnel must make a reasonable attempt to contact the student or parents within three school business days following the start of the suspension or emergency expulsion and periodically thereafter until the suspension or emergency expulsion ends to:
• (i) Coordinate the delivery and grading of course work between the student and the student's teacher(s) at a frequency that would allow the student to keep current with assignments and course work for all of the student's regular subjects or classes; and
• (ii) Communicate with the student, parents, and the student's teacher(s) about the student's academic progress.
• (c) An opportunity for the student to make up any assignments and tests missed during the period of suspension or emergency expulsion.

(5) Long-term suspensions and expulsions. For students subject to expulsion or suspension for more than ten consecutive school days, a school district must provide educational services in accordance with WAC 392-121-107.