Full Service Manual Revision
The service includes an inspection of the local board policy manual against the WSSDA Reference Manual, a comprehensive set of Washington-specific sample policies regarding the board of directors, instruction, students, community relations, personnel and administration. The inspection covers all policies — including those customized by the district to meet its unique needs — and identifies any inconsistencies or non-compliance issues.

In an on-site review session, a policy consultant discusses recommendations with the board and district administrators. Then, over a period of about one year, the consultant assists the board in the policy revision and drafting process. During that time, the superintendent and board may also consult with the WSSDA Policy and Legal Services team.
Boards using this service receive a hard copy and CD of the newly revised policies and procedures in Word format and a hard copy of the WSSDA Reference Manual.

Policy Reference Manual
A comprehensive set of Washington specific sample policies in the areas of strategic planning, board of directors, instruction, students, community relations, personnel, and management support.

Consultations On Policy and Legal Issues
Policy staff are available via telephone and e-mail to provide information, sample policies and copies of legal references on policy or legal questions. This service is dues supported.

Guide to Parliamentary Procedures
Compiled by WSSDA Parliamentary Consultant Mary Randolph. Covers essential parliamentary procedures for school boards in the state of Washington.

— FREE  Available in HTML

Open Public Meetings: A Guide for School Directors and Superintendents
(Revised 2007)
Focuses on provisions of the State Open Public Meetings Act, and addresses other legal requirements and nonlegal issues surrounding effective and responsible public meetings.

— FREE  Available in PDF

Policy News
Subscribers receive concise analyses of developing issues plus copies of new and amended sample policies. The newsletter and policies are delivered in electronic format for easy editing and customization. A great way to stay current with emerging policy issues.

School Law Digest
Keeps members current on court decisions, Attorney General opinions, arbitrations and administrative hearing decisions affecting education. Written in standard English, it clarifies legal decisions pertaining to school districts. The newsletter is delivered in electronic format. For more information, click here.

School Law and Policy Online Service (Available through EduPortal)
Obtain the traditional WSSDA School Law and Policy service online in conjunction with the WASA EduPortal service. The online service links the Policy Reference Manual and the education sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and Attorney General opinions (AGOs).

Policy consultants offer two on-site workshops that help boards use the policymaking process to govern their districts effectively:

The Board’s Role in Policy Development and Oversight: This three-hour workshop focuses on the policymaking process and examines what makes a good policy, how to use policies to communicate board intent and philosophy, and how policies are key to district accountability. Leading boards through the process of evaluating and revising local policy, the consultant examines how to monitor policy implementation and identify policies that need to be revised.

Policy Development and Governance for Improved Student Learning: This full-day workshop explores governance by policy, focusing on the board’s most important role — ensuring that all students learn. Using research-based concepts, boards prioritize policies by identifying those that significantly impact student learning. Boards also get hands-on experience using a specific framework to develop key policies, enhancing their ability to focus on their most critical responsibilities and separate themselves from the superintendent’s management role. This service provides an analysis of all district policies, providing feedback on the priority nature of each policy, the status of legal references, and the need for revisions. The board and superintendent also receive a written evaluation and completed checklist on their district’s policy manual status.

Policy News
Sample Article:
Electronic Resources

School Law Digest
Sample Article:
U.S. SUPREME COURT
High Court Rules “Class of One” Theory Does Not Apply in Public Employment

Washington Council of School Attorneys

• Roster
• Bylaws