The bill aims to enhance community representation in education by mandating that all school districts in Washington with enrollments of 2,000 students or more elect their school board directors from designated director districts. It establishes a new requirement for first-class school districts to adopt a redistricting plan by January 1, 2027, to ensure that they are divided into a specified number of director districts based on their student enrollment. Specifically, districts with 2,000 to 5,000 students must have at least three director districts and two at-large positions, while those with more than 5,000 students must have at least four director districts and one at-large position. The bill also clarifies that these requirements do not apply to first-class school districts located within cities with populations of 400,000 or more.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding the election and terms of school board directors. It stipulates that directors must be elected from their respective districts by the entire school district's electorate and introduces staggered terms for directors. The bill also includes provisions for the dissolution of existing director districts and the creation of new ones, ensuring that no first-class school district can reduce the number of director districts below the mandated requirements. Overall, the legislation seeks to promote diversity and representation on school boards, aligning them more closely with the communities they serve.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.343.300
Substitute bill: 28A.343.030, 28A.343.050