Dear colleagues,
OSPI is seeking your feedback on model student handbook language that school districts will be required to use to notify students, families, and employees about important rights, complaint options, and contacts.
Background
Sec. 1 of HB 1207, now codified at RCW 28A.300.286, requires OSPI to “develop, and periodically update, model student handbook language that includes information about policies and complaint procedures related to discrimination, including sexual harassment and addressing transgender students, and information about policies and complaint procedures related to harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB), as well as the overlap between the policies and complaint procedures. The model handbook language must also include a description of the services available through the office of the education ombud and the contact information for the office of the education ombuds.”
OSPI has existing sample handbook language available, which served as a starting point for this new model handbook language.
School districts will be required to include this handbook language in their student handbooks and on their websites, beginning in the 2024–25 school year.
Request for Feedback
We invite your input on this draft, and we are especially hopeful for feedback in the following areas:
- Readability—We are sharing legal and procedural information, so we welcome any recommendations on plain language, phrasing, and legal accuracy.
- Usefulness of information—How do we provide useful information without overwhelming readers with details? We are not intending this handbook information to take the place of full district policies and procedures, and desire for this information to be "family-friendly".
- Length of document—Given this will be published in each school’s student handbooks, we know space and printing costs could be an issue.
Next Steps & Timeline
OSPI is required to post this handbook language online by July 1, 2024. However, because school districts update student handbooks for printing several months before the new school year, we are hoping to have the language posted and shared with districts by late March. Could you please provide any feedback by the end of the day on Thursday, March 7, 2024.