K-20 Network Oversight
About the K-20 Education Network Board

Summary of ESB 5789, K-20 Governance Bill

In 1999, the state's landmark K-20 educational technology network entered a new phase with enactment of Engrossed Senate Bill 5789,which establishes a new governance structure for the network.

The Telecommunications Oversight and Policy Committee (TOPC), which has been responsible for overseeing the development and construction of the network since 1996, will terminate on June 30, 1999. After that date, responsibilities for running the network will be divided between the new K-20 Educational Network Board and the Information Services Board (ISB), an existing entity created in RCW 43.105.032.

The K-20 board's 11 voting members are:

• A designee of the Governor;
• Two state Senators;
• Two state Representatives;
• The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) or designee;
• The Executive Director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) or designee;
• The Executive Director of State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) or designee;
• The Chair of the ISB or designee;
• The Department of Information Services (DIS) director or designee (who will serve as chair); and
• One citizen appointed by the Governor.

The K-20 board will also include seven non-voting members:

• A community or technical college president;
• A public baccalaureate institution president;
• The State Librarian;
• An education service district superintendent;
• A school district superintendent, a private school representative; and
• A representative of a private baccalaureate institution.

The K-20 board has the duty to ensure that the network serves the broad public interest above the interest of any network users. To do this, it is directed to:

• Establish goals and measurable objectives through collaboration with educational sectors (school districts, community and technical colleges, and universities).
• Ensure that these goals and objectives are the bases for decisions or recommendations regarding technical development and operations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the network in meeting goals and objectives.
• Adopt, modify, and implement policies to facilitate network development, operations, and expansion.
• Prepare and submit a budget to the Governor and the Legislature.
• Make recommendations regarding co-payments charged to public educational institutions and other public entities, as well as charges to non-governmental entities connected to the network.
• Authorize releases of funds from the K-20 technology account.
• Make and enforce rules for acceptable use policies.

The ISB is responsible for the technical development and operations of the network. These duties are to:

• Establish and implement the K-20 network technical policy, including technical standards and conditions of use.
• Review and approve network design.
• Procure shared network services and equipment.
• Make rules regarding technical operations and conditions of use.
• Resolve user/provider disputes concerning technical matters.
• Authorize releases of funds from the Education Technology Revolving Fund for network operation and maintenance.
• Delegate general operational and technical oversight to the K-20 network technical steering committee, a new entity, as appropriate. This steering committee's members are representatives of the HECB, SPI, SBCTC, educational service districts, public baccalaureate institutions, the computer or telecommunications industry, and DIS. The ex-officio members are a representative of the entity that operates the network, the State Librarian, and a representative of independent non-profit baccalaureate institutions.

In overseeing the technical aspects of the K-20 network, the ISB will not duplicate the statutory responsibilities of the HECB, SPI, the State Librarian, or the governing boards of the institutions of higher education and may not interfere in any curriculum or legally offered programming offered over the network.

DIS will maintain, in consultation with the network users and the K-20 board, the K-20 operations cooperative (KOCO). KOCO is responsible for day-to-day network management, technical network status monitoring, technical problem response coordination, and other duties as agreed to by the department, the educational sectors, and the ISB. Funding for the K-20 operations cooperative is from the K-20 revolving fund.