The purposes of this chapter are to implement RCW 28A.335.160(2) and 28A.225.250 and establish the conditions pursuant to which school districts may cooperate in interdistrict tuition-free educational programs, including but not limited to vocational and handicapped programs.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) "Residence," "resident student," and "resident district" shall mean the same as defined in WAC 392-137-010.

(2) "Serving district" shall mean the Washington state school district which operates a tuition-free interdistrict cooperation program pursuant to an agreement with one or more Washington state school districts.

(3) "Participating school district(s)" shall mean any Washington state school district that is a signatory to an interdistrict cooperative agreement pursuant to provisions of this chapter.

Any school district may cooperate with one or more other school districts in the joint maintenance and operation of educational programs or services:

(1) As a part of the operation of a joint facility, or otherwise; and

(2) On a full- or part-time attendance basis, or a regular 180-day or extended school year basis.

(1) An interdistrict cooperation contract shall be agreed upon by each participating school district and include and set forth at least the following:

(a) A description of the services and program.

(b) The number of students to be served from each district.

(c) The estimated amount of any operating costs of the program that are not funded from state or federal sources and the method of sharing such unfunded costs.

(2) Interdistrict cooperation programs shall be:

(a) Voluntary.

(b) Tuition free.

(c) Necessary for the express purpose of:

(i) Providing educational programs not otherwise available; and/or

(ii) Avoiding unnecessary duplications of specialized or unusually expensive programs and facilities; and/or

(iii) Improving racial balance within and among school districts.

(d) Interdistrict cooperation contracts shall be approved in advance of the board of directors of each participating school district.

(e) Interdistrict cooperation contracts shall be retained by each participating school district, and shall be made available upon request for audit or review purposes.

(1) Each school district shall provide, upon request of the superintendent of public instruction, such data as the superintendent deems appropriate to identify the resident school district of all nonresident students enrolled in a school district cooperative program who are attending classes in a school district other than the school district in which the student is resident, excepting all high school students from nonhigh school districts.

(2) Data required by this section shall be used by the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of WAC 392-121-170 and chapter 392-139 WAC as now or hereafter amended.

Cooperative financing involving the construction of any educational facility and arrangements therefor pursuant to RCW 28A.335.160(1) shall be in compliance with regulations established by the office of superintendent of public instruction in chapters 392-345 and 392-346 WAC, as now or hereafter amended.

No arrangement pursuant to this chapter shall alter a nonhigh school district's obligation to a high school district pursuant to chapter 28A.545 RCW.