HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1892

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ebersole, Peery, Pruitt, P. King, Rasmussen, Cole and Spanel)

Authorizing pilot blended programs of learning assistance.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Butterfield, Cole, Cooper, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Holland, Holm, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, Taylor, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature created the learning assistance program.  The program was to replace the remediation assistance program.  Discussion in 1987 emphasized a desire to assure greater flexibility in the provision of services to allow more efficiency and to allow blending of programs.  Questions have been raised by several school districts on the perception that modification of the service delivery model used in the older remediation assistance program and chapter one programs cannot be undertaken under the learning assistance program.  There has been considerable confusion as to the source of the lack of flexibility which most proponents of the measure believed to have been the basis for the passage of the learning assistance program.

SUMMARY:

A maximum of five school districts will be selected to conduct pilot programs by providing a coordinated program with the funds they receive under the Learning Assistance Act in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 school years.  The districts shall be selected by the superintendent of public instruction based on consideration of the potential of the project to enhance information on innovative instructional models to prevent or address learning problems.

The superintendent of public instruction shall waive the following requirements for selected districts:  (a)  That students identified as academically deficient be served in rank order of the severity of the deficit; (b)  That learning assistance program services be supplemental to the basic education program; (c)  That a coordinated program account for the number of minutes a child is served in determining the charges to the learning assistance program; and (d)  Other rules deemed appropriate to facilitate the provision of coordinated services.

On or before August 31, 1990, the superintendent of public instruction shall report on the results of the pilot projects to the education committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.  The report shall include the following information:  (a)  A comparison of the effect of the pilot project and other approved programs of learning assistance on student achievement, (b)  An analysis of changes in the number of pilot program students referred to special education, and (c)  An analysis of how existing state and federal categorical program requirements impact the provision of a coordinated program of learning assistance. This act shall expire on September 1, 1990.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  The local education association and appropriate parent advocacy groups shall approve the application to participate in the coordinated programs of learning assistance pilot programs.  It is made clear that these programs do not replace special education.  Rather than being required to waive certain requirements, the superintendent of public instruction's power becomes discretionary.  Provisions allowing the waiver of the requirement that the coordinated program be supplemental to the basic education program and the authority to waive other rules deemed necessary are striken. Provisions allowing the waiver of the requirement that students be served based on their ranking as to the severity of their deficit are retained, but provisions are added that the children served must include a proportional sample of the children which would have been eligible for service.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 26, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Stephen Fink, Edmonds School District; John Pearson, Tacoma School District; and Judy Hartmann, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    It is important that we insure that we do not adopt regulations that prevent the development of innovative, efficient, and effective programs for children who are having difficulty in school.  Currently, reporting requirements, limitations on who may be served, and strict ratios have hampered innovative programs.  Rather than amending the statutes affecting all learning assistance programs, a pilot program should be developed.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 85; Nays 11; Excused 2

Voting Nay: Representatives Betrozoff, Brough, Bumgarner, Chandler, Fuhrman, Lewis, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Sanders, Williams B

Excused:    Representatives Allen, Smith C