AN ACT Relating to education; adding a new section to chapter 28A.58 RCW; creating new sections; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that the common school element of the state's education system is an important social institution. Further, the legislature believes it shares in the public obligation to foster and sustain a professional educational environment that has, but is not limited to, the following characteristics: Attracts individuals to the teaching profession; encourages creativity and cooperation among teachers and other certificated instructional staff; provides appropriate in-service opportunities for certificated instructional staff; enhances the intrinsic rewards certificated instructional staff gain from helping students learn; and provides certificated instructional staff with compensation that takes into account job performance but is also commensurate with social expectations. Finally, the legislature finds that accountability and compensation are critical variables affecting the success of the education system.

Pursuant to section 3, chapter 349, Laws of 1985 (uncodified), it is the intent of the legislature to initiate an examination of the relationship between accountability and compensation and to provide accordingly for the development and field testing of a compensation model.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish an accountability and compensation in education committee to be comprised of the following members:

(a) The superintendent of public instruction who shall serve as chairman of the committee;

(b) The governor or the governor's designee;

(d) Four members who are practicing certificated instructional employees, one of whom shall be a vocational instructor, with two from first class school districts and two from second class school districts;

(e) Four members who are school directors, with two from first class school districts and two from second class school districts;

(f) Two members who are principals, with one from a first class school district and one from a second class school district;

(g) Two members who are superintendents, with one from a first class school district and one from a second class school district;

(h) Two members representing institutions with state board of education approved professional educator preparation programs;

(i) One member representing business;

(j) One member representing labor;

(k) Two members representing citizens and parents; and

(l) Four members of the legislature as follows:

(i) One member from each caucus of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; and

(ii) One member from each caucus of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(2) Members of the committee established under subsection (1) of this section shall be appointed by June 1, 1988.

(3)(a) Nonlegislative members of the committee shall be reimbursed for expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(b) Legislative members of the committee shall be reimbursed for expenses under RCW 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The accountability and compensation in education committee shall conduct, and conclude not later than January 1, 1990, an examination of the relationship between compensation and accountability. The examination shall include, but is not limited to, a review of the relationship between compensation for certificated instructional staff and:

(1) Certificated instructional staff salaries compared to other professions and compared to other states and other countries. The committee is encouraged to follow-up on any offer by a public or private entity to conduct a study of teachers' salaries;

(2) The in-service training act of 1977 (RCW 28A.71.200 through 28A.71.210);

(3) In-service/staff development sponsored by school districts, educational service districts, or other providers of in-service/staff development programs;

(4) The state board of education's continuing education requirement for certificated instructional staff with continuing certificates;

(5) The provisions of RCW 28A.71.110 which allow credit on the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee for approved in-service and continuing education;

(6) The length of the school year for contracted certificated employees;

(7) The teacher assistance program under RCW 28A.67.240;

(8) The self-study program under RCW 28A.58.085;

(9) The schools for the twenty-first century program under RCW 28A.100.030 through 28A.100.068;

(10) The activities of the committee on the accountability and assessment of educational outcomes under RCW 28A.100.010 through 28A.100.026;

(11) The state grant program for school-based management projects under RCW 28A.58.081 and 28A.58.082;

(12) The state grant program for school improvement and research projects under RCW 28A.67.115;

(13) The evaluation of certificated employees under RCW 28A.67.065 and the development of evaluation models pursuant to RCW 28A.67.225;

(14) State board of education teacher assignment and certificate endorsement policies;

(15) Certification requirements under chapter 28A.70 RCW;

(16) Any information as may be available by January 1, 1990, pertaining to the study of the relationship between the teacher assistance program, student teaching, and internships under RCW 28A.04.170;

(17) The Washington award for excellence in education program under RCW 28A.03.523 through 28A.03.538, and particularly the Christa McAuliffe award under that program (RCW 28A.03.526); and

(18) Local education program enhancement funds provided under section 506, chapter 7, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. (uncodified).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The accountability and compensation in education committee shall develop by January 1, 1991, a compensation model that takes into account the findings of the examination conducted pursuant to section 3 of this act. The model shall focus on the optimal use, remuneration, and development of human resources.

(2) The compensation model shall include at a minimum the following features:

(a) Differentiated levels of employment classification for certificated instructional staff;

(b) Differentiated responsibilities for each level of employment classification;

(c) Differentiated compensation for each level of employment classification, which shall be based on at least one factor other than years of experience and level of educational attainment;

(d) An evaluation component with particular but not exclusive focus on formative evaluation; and

(e) An in-service/staff development component.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall provide a copy of the compensation model to all school districts not later than January 15, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) By April 1, 1991, the superintendent of public instruction shall issue a request for applications from school districts to field test the compensation model developed under section 4 of this act. Applications shall include a written agreement between the school district board of directors and the appropriate bargaining representatives of the district's employees that compensation for the duration of the field test period shall be in accordance with the provisions of the compensation model.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall select by June 1, 1991, one school district to field test the compensation model developed under section 4 of this act. The field test shall begin with the 1991-92 school year and conclude at the end of the 1994-95 school year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The school district selected to field test the compensation model developed under section 4 of this act shall provide compensation to the employees under the compensation model.

(2) For purposes of implementing the field test of the compensation model, the salaries of the employees in the selected district shall be determined by the accountability and compensation in education committee established under section 2 of this act and funding of the compensation model for purposes of the field test project shall be the sole responsibility of the state.

(3) For purposes of computing retirement benefits under RCW 41.32.010, employees participating in the field test project shall be deemed to have earnable compensation in the amount they receive under the compensation model.

(4) Pursuant to a written agreement between the school district and the employees selected to field test the compensation model developed under section 4 of this act, which agreement stipulates that the district and employees wish to continue using the compensation model beyond June 30, 1995, the state shall support such local decision and provide the necessary funding through the state operating appropriations act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall submit a report to the legislature not later than January 1, 1994, on the progress of the field test of the compensation model developed under section 4 of this act.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall submit a final report to the legislature not later than January 1, 1996, on the findings of the field test of the compensation model. The report shall include a recommendation on the feasibility and advisability of implementing state-wide the compensation model developed under section 4 of this act, and any other recommendations as determined by the superintendent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.04 RCW to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The superintendent of public instruction may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made, in trust or otherwise, to support the work of the accountability and compensation in education committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 28A.58 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The provisions of RCW 28A.58.0951 shall not apply to the school district selected to field test a compensation model developed by the committee on accountability and compensation in education.

(2) This section shall expire June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and sections 1 through 10 of this act shall take effect March 31, 1988.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 1 through 9 of this act shall expire January 2, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. The sum of forty-nine thousand five hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.