Each school district shall account for the educational progress of each of its students. To achieve this, school districts shall be required to report annually to the superintendent of public instruction:

     (1) For students enrolled in each of a school district's high school programs:

     (a) The number of students who graduate in fewer than four years;

     (b) The number of students who graduate in four years;

     (c) The number of students who remain in school for more than four years but who eventually graduate and the number of students who remain in school for more than four years but do not graduate;

     (d) The number of students who transfer to other schools;

     (e) The number of students in the ninth through twelfth grade who drop out of school over a four-year period; and

     (f) The number of students whose status is unknown.

     (2) Dropout rates of students in each of the grades seven through twelve.

     (3) Dropout rates for student populations in each of the grades seven through twelve by:

     (a) Ethnicity;

     (b) Gender;

     (c) Socioeconomic status; and

     (d) Disability status.

     (4) The causes or reasons, or both, attributed to students for having dropped out of school in grades seven through twelve.

     (5) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to assure uniformity in the information districts are required to report under subsections (1) through (4) of this section. In developing rules, the superintendent of public instruction shall consult with school districts, including administrative and counseling personnel, with regard to the methods through which information is to be collected and reported.

     (6) In reporting on the causes or reasons, or both, attributed to students for having dropped out of school, school building officials shall, to the extent reasonably practical, obtain such information directly from students. In lieu of obtaining such information directly from students, building principals and counselors shall identify the causes or reasons, or both, based on their professional judgment.

     (7) The superintendent of public instruction shall report annually to the legislature the information collected under subsections (1) through (4) of this section.

     (8) The Washington state institute for public policy shall calculate an annual estimate of the savings resulting from any change compared to the prior school year in the extended graduation rate. The superintendent shall include the estimate from the institute in an appendix of the report required under subsection (7) of this section, beginning with the 2010 report.

[2010 c 243 § 5; 2005 c 207 § 3; 1991 c 235 § 4; 1986 c 151 § 1. Formerly RCW 28A.58.087.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Intent--2005 c 207: See note following RCW 28A.600.300.