HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5263

BYSenators Gaspard, Bailey, Bender, Bauer, von Reichbauer, Johnson, Conner, Smitherman, Garrett, Talmadge, Moore, Wojahn, Warnke, Rinehart, Peterson, Vognild, Kiskaddon, Saling, Anderson and Benitz

Establishing a ratio of vocational education teachers to students.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (18)

      Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Fuhrman, Holm, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, L. Smith, Taylor, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7109)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION APRIL 1, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Funding formulae for approved vocational education programs have been set in state operating budgets adopted by the legislature rather than by statute in recent years. The 1979-81 budget established the vocational funding formula based on a ratio of one certificated staff unit to each 16.67 average annual FTE (full time equivalent) student enrolled in vocational education programs approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The 1981- 83 and 1983-85 operating budgets allocated funds on a ratio of one certificated staff unit for each 18.3 average annual FTE. The operating budget for the current 1985-87 biennium allocates funds to local school districts based on a ratio of one certificated staff unit to each 18.3 average annual FTE for the 1985-86 school year and one to 17.5 FTE for the 1986-87 school year.

SUMMARY:

Commencing with the 1987-88 school year, the statutory funding formula for allocating state funds for basic education shall include a ratio of one certificated person to each 16.67 average annual full time equivalent vocational student in grades nine through twelve enrolled in vocational education programs approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Any increase in funds generated by the change in the funding formula shall be used by local school districts to provide additional support for their vocational education programs commencing with the 1987-88 school year.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Kathleen Preston, Washington Vocational Association; Judy Hartmann, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Howard Coble, Washington Association of School Administrators; Denis Curry, Council on Vocational Education.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    We have come before you for the past few years attempting to restore this level of funding to vocational education.  We believe it is important that we recognize the importance of vocational education. While some groups support additional funding not all groups support requiring districts to spend these funds in a particular way.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None presented.