Key RCWs and Implementation Examples
When you’re adding required content to your website, try to balance what your users need with what the rules say you have to include. The good news is that most of this info won’t need regular updates, so you can usually handle it once with your website provider. Social media is a bit different. Because Meta only allows users to schedule posts out 29 days in advance and these requirements recur throughout the school year, it can be helpful to use a social media scheduling platform that allows communicators to schedule posts further in advance.
RCW 28A.320.294: Health and safety information on public school websites and social media
School districts must include suicide prevention information on their website. A link to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or other nationally recognized crisis and counseling services will satisfy this requirement.
In addition, school districts with a social media presence must post information about state or national suicide prevention and counseling organizations no less frequently than once per quarter.
Key Takeaways
- Applies to both district website and social media
- Must post on social media at least once per quarter
Example Social Media Post
PRO TIP: Utilize the designed assets from the 988 Partner Toolkit, a resource center for social media, video, print, radio, FAQs, messaging, and other marketing materials that can be used to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Example Website Implementation
Washougal School District has a link in the footer of the website to a dedicated page with resources and links.
RCW 28A.320.292: Posting of department of health information
School districts must prominently include a link to the Washington State Department of Health Safety Study Hall on their website. In addition, school districts with a social media presence must post a link to the Washington State Department of Health Safety Study Hall at least twice per school year.
Key Takeaways
- Applies to both district website and social media
- Must post on social media at least twice per school year
Example Social Media Post
Example Website Implementation
The ESD 112 website includes a dedicated Safety Study Hall slide on the home page
Additional RCWs for School District Websites
In addition to the above RCWs, school districts are also required to communicate about and post the following information on their websites.
RCW 28A.300.475: Comprehensive sexual health education
Each school providing comprehensive sexual health education must notify parents and guardians that the school will be providing comprehensive sexual health education and the notice must include, or provide a means for electronic access to, all course materials by grade that will be used at the school during the instruction. This often, but not always, means adding sexual health curriculum to the website.
RCW 28A.600.477: Prohibition of harassment, intimidation, and bullying
School districts are required to prominently post information on reporting harassment, intimidation or bullying; the name and contact information for making a report to a school administrator; and the name and contact information for the district compliance officer.
RCW 28A.300.286: HIB Policies and complaint procedures & Posting of model student handbook language
Model student handbook language must be included on the website and in any student handbook that the school district publishes to their website.
RCW 42.56: Public Records Act
School districts must include public records information, including officer contact information, on the website.
RCW 28A.655.110: Annual school performance report
Once per year, school districts must send an annual report to parents of all enrolled students and make the annual report available to the wider community. Annual reports can be delivered to parents digitally or in print format. This report must include:
- A brief statement of the mission of the school and the school district
- A concise annual budget report
- Information regarding the use and condition of the school building(s)
- A brief description of the school’s learning improvement plans, student achievement relative to goals, and information about school-level plans to achieve goals
- A summary of feedback from parents/community members
- An invitation to all parents and citizens to participate in school activities
Annual reports also must include the following information, which can be found on the OSPI Report Card site. School districts often simply link or add a QR code to the OSPI Report Card site to reference the following required information:
- Enrollment statistics including student demographics
- Expenditures per pupil for the school year
- A summary of student scores on all mandated tests, showing percentage of students at each level of assessment and comparing school performance with preceding years
- Student attendance, graduation, and dropout rates
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