HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5720

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators  Gaspard, Patterson, Barr, Bailey, Bauer and Hansen)

Revising the authority for cooperative agreements between or among school districts.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (19)

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

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations and not by Committee on Education.  (20)

      Signed by Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, McLean, McMullen, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (786-7143)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

APRIL 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Current law permits any school district to cooperate with one or more school districts to operate jointly any educational facility or educational programs or services.

In 1985 the legislature authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop a program to establish five-year pilot projects for the joint operation of programs and services between small school districts.  For the purposes of the program, which shall expire September 1, 1990, the SPI is authorized to waive certain provisions of law which create financial disincentives to cooperation among small school districts.

Washington State University may provide technical assistance to school districts participating in the program.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  The sunset date for the small schools cooperative projects program is repealed and the program is made ongoing.

Waivers may include adjusting state salary compliance levels to bring all districts participating in a cooperative project up to the highest district's level.  Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) rules must include a definition of small school districts and any waiver granted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction may not exceed five years in length.  Districts participating in a cooperative project may request another waiver not to exceed five years.  Districts are encouraged to establish cooperative projects with an emphasis to increase curriculum programs and opportunities.  School districts which continue cooperative agreements beyond the initial five year period shall have their funding based on the small high school factor reduced.

Educational service districts which provide cooperative programs for school districts may, with the consent of the participating districts, receive state apportionment funds directly for pupil transportation services or other state-funded categorical school programs.

BILL AS AMENDED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS COMPARED TO BILL AS AMENDED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION:  Required reports and technical assistance to districts participating in cooperative projects are deleted.  An appropriation for grants for technical assistance is removed.  Educational service districts, with the consent of the participating school districts may receive state apportionment funds directly for provision of pupil transportation and other categorical programs.

BILL AS AMENDED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION COMPARED TO ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE: Provisions are added requiring the small school factor to be reduced for districts extending cooperative agreements beyond the first five years.

Technical assistance to districts may be provided by rural education centers at any Washington institution of higher education rather than limited to Washington State University.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Amendment proposed.

Fiscal Note:      Requested April 6, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Education)  Bob Maier, Washington Education Association; Jim Menzies, Chair, Rural Education Center, Tekoa School District; Larry Warner, Garfield- Palouse School District; Ray Smith, Washington State University Rural Education Center; Dick Moody, Educational Service District  101, Spokane.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education)  None presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Education)  The cooperative agreements for the operation and increase of program offerings in small rural districts has proved successful.  Other districts are interested in initiating such agreements, but are hesitant to do so when the program will sunset in three year.  To encourage continued cooperation the program should become on-going at this time.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education)  None presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.