BILL REQ. #:  H-4661.1 

Read first time 03/14/12.   Referred to Committee on Education Appropriations & Oversight.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a joint select committee on education finance and accountability; and amending RCW 28A.657.125.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.657.125 and 2010 c 235 s 114 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The McCleary decision by the state supreme court in 2011 found that the legislature is not meeting its paramount duty to adequately fund K-12 basic education. The court also found that recent legislative efforts to adjust the basic education definition and funding models using the prototypical school model will meet the paramount duty if implemented and fully funded in a timely manner.
     (b) The legislature finds that in return for increased investment in education, the public expects a unified and equitable system of education accountability, which must include expectations and benchmarks for improvement, along with support for schools ((and)), districts, and other educational institutions to make the necessary changes that will lead to success for all students. Such a system must also clearly address the consequences for persistent lack of improvement. ((Establishing a process for school districts to prepare and implement a required action plan is one such consequence. However, to be truly accountable to students, parents, the community, and taxpayers, the legislature must also consider what should happen if a required action district continues not to make improvement after an extended period of time. Without an answer to this significant question, the state's system of education accountability is incomplete.)) Furthermore, accountability must be appropriately shared among various levels of decision makers, including ((in the building, in the district,)) at the local or institutional level and at the state.
     (c) The legislature further finds increasing evidence that comprehensive early learning programs, particularly for at-risk children, have a significant impact both on children's readiness to learn and on their success in early grades and beyond. At the same time, students' readiness for career and college after high school graduation is increasingly important in today's economy. These findings suggest that the educational system from prekindergarten through postsecondary should be considered comprehensively rather than as individual sectors.
     (2)(a) A joint select committee on education finance and accountability is established beginning no earlier than May 1, 2012, with the following voting members:
     (i) The president of the senate shall appoint ((two)) four members from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.
     (ii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint ((two)) four members from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.
     (iii) The superintendent of public instruction or a designee shall serve as a member of the committee.
     (b) The committee shall choose its chair or cochairs from among its legislative membership.
     (3) ((The committee shall:
     (a))) The purpose of the committee is to identify revenue sources to adequately fund the state's education system; identify and analyze options for a complete system of education accountability, particularly consequences in the case of persistent lack of improvement ((by a required action district;
     (b) Identify and analyze appropriate decision-making responsibilities and accompanying consequences at the building, district, and state level within such an accountability system;
     (c) Examine models and experiences in other states;
     (d) Identify the circumstances under which significant state action may be required; and
     (e) Analyze the financial, legal, and practical considerations that would accompany significant state action)); and assist the legislature in meeting the requirements of the McCleary decision in a timely manner.
     (4)(a) The committee shall establish a scope of work and identify the priority issues to be addressed, taking into consideration its purpose and the time available for the task force to operate. The committee shall consider the previous work of the basic education finance task force, the quality education council, the state board of education, the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee, and technical working groups convened under chapter 548, Laws of 2009; the timelines for implementation of chapter 236, Laws of 2010; the comprehensive plan for a voluntary program of early learning; the state's application for flexibility under the federal elementary and secondary education act; and other relevant research and reports.
     (b) One objective of the committee is to provide maximum transparency for parents, educators, and other citizens regarding how the state's education system is funded and how education system performance expectations are established and measured. A second objective is to assure balance and shared responsibility between the local and state level, including through stable and predictable funding sources at both the local and state level.
     (c) The preliminary report of the committee is due January 1, 2013, and at a minimum shall include:
     (i) The scope of work and priority issues the committee intends to address, including the extent that the scope will include early learning, K-12 education, and higher education, and including a work plan with timelines for completion of the committee's work;
     (ii) Based on the scope of work, recommendations for adjusting the membership and organization of the committee, if necessary to provide expertise to address the priority issues; and
     (iii) Strategies for involving and seeking input from the public and groups representing parents, educators, business, labor, and other interested community members, which may include creation of subcommittees.
     (d) The final report of the committee is due January 1, 2014. The committee may recommend multiple options, but shall recommend one preferred alternative, including an outline of necessary implementing legislation. The committee must recommend areas in the budget to be eliminated or reduced if an option includes no new revenues.
     (5) Staff support for the committee must be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research, with assistance from the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the office of financial management, the Washington state institute for public policy, and other state agencies as necessary.
     (((5) The committee shall submit an interim report to the education committees of the legislature by September 1, 2012, and a final report with recommendations by September 1, 2013.))
     (6) This section expires June 30, 2014.