SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5093

As of March 5, 2011

Title: An act relating to revising education provisions to implement budget reductions.

Brief Description: Revising education provisions to implement budget reductions.

Sponsors: Senators McAuliffe and Shin; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/24/11, 1/31/11, 2/02/11 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means: 2/17/11.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5093 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Harper, Vice Chair; Litzow, Ranking Minority Member; Eide, Hobbs, King, Nelson and Rockefeller.

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Staff: Elise Greef (786-7708)

Background: Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (AGOAC). The AGOAC was created during the 2009 legislature to synthesize the findings and recommendations from the 2008 achievement gap studies into an implementation plan and to recommend policies and strategies to close the achievement gap in Washington State. It is composed of six legislators and a representative from each of the minority commissions, the federally recognized Indian tribes, the Office of the Education Ombudsman, and the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) must provide staff support to the AGOAC. The committee is required to submit an annual report to the Governor, SPI, the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, and the Legislature.

Career and Technical (CTE) Student Organizations. SPI must provide staff support for statewide coordination of CTE student organizations, including but not limited to the National FFA Organization; Family Career, and Community Leaders of America; SkillsUSA; Distributive Education Clubs of America; Future Business Leaders of America; and the Technology Student Organization.

Math, Science, and Technology Director. SPI must employ a statewide director for math, science, and technology to perform specified duties.

Special Services Pilot Program. In 2003 the Legislature authorized and funded two school districts to pilot programs of early and intensive intervention services in reading and language with the intent to reduce the number of children who may eventually require special education services. The pilot program was originally to expire June 30, 2007. In 2007 the Legislature reauthorized, expanded, and funded the pilot program for seven school districts. The expanded pilot program is to expire June 30, 2011.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The SPI is responsible for staffing the AGOAC; the CTE student organizations; and the math, science, and technology director only to the extent that funds are available. The special services pilot program expires March 1, 2011, instead of June 30, 2011.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): The provisions addressing the mathematics assessment requirements for the graduating class of 2013 are removed. The provisions reducing the local effort assistance payments in 2011 are removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: The changes in this bill align the statutes with and implement the Governor's funding proposals. Some of the changes are the reductions that were passed in the early action supplemental budget in the December special session, including the across the board 6.3 percent reduction in levy equalization for the current fiscal and school year. This is different than the Governor's proposal for levy equalization for the biennial budget.

CON: The proposal to lower the math requirements is not in the best interest of our students or good for instilling long-term support for our schools. Washington has been working so hard to move toward a meaningful high school diploma and now you are retreating on the diploma requirements. This is not going to prepare our students for the jobs of the future. We need to step up on STEM not back down. Our reading and writing assessments have produced strong improvements in student scores and most of our students are meeting the state standards. However, math scores are dropping because students are not yet held accountable for meeting the state standards in math.

OTHER: Because of this bill, some of the extraordinary teacher aides who help students learn when they are struggling or when they are highly capable may lose their job and the school programs may be eliminated. Most school districts do receive levy equalization funds. The reduction to levy equalization breaks the promise that the Legislature made to school districts last year when the compromise was made to raise the levy lid. Other significant cuts are coming that will have devastating impacts for school districts and the levy equalization dollars are needed to help mitigate those impacts so this section should be removed. The special services pilots have been very successful and now the state needs to infuse this success into the system statewide so there will be successful academic interventions for our struggling students. We support the Governor's proposal to require students to meet the state math standards on only one of the math EOC exams as we transition from a comprehensive math assessment to EOC assessments. But delay alone will not help – there needs to be a comprehensive plan to get our students to meet the state standards. Be bold and put on the table the savings that could be achieved by suspending the assessment requirements for high school graduation. The idea of the savings from this bill is very attractive so if you make these cuts please use the resources saved to fund effective student programs.

Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Jim Crawford, Office of Financial Management.

CON: Steve Mullin, WA Roundtable.

OTHER: Wendy Rader-Konofalski, Washington Education Association; Jenna Cusack, Sydney Kleingartner, student, Garfield Elementary; Brad Burnham, WA State Board of Education; Dan Steele, WA Association of School Administrators; Marie Sullivan, WA State School Directors' Association; Ramona Hattendorf, Washington State PTA.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Recommended Substitute (Ways & Means): PRO: The bill is necessary to implement the Governor's budget. One item that was eliminated in the substitute bill was a change to math assessments. The change for the class of 2013 is achievable, and the Governor's office continues to recommend that change. The original bill also contains a restructure of levy equalization, along with the reduction. The Governor recognizes that the workgroup is underway but, if the Legislature wants to take up the issue this session, there are things that can be done to restructure the current system. The workgroup will recommend waiting until that work is complete.

OTHER: The removal of the levy equalization reduction from the bill is appreciated. Please do not reduce or change levy equalization until the current local levy workgroup is able to complete its work.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Jim Crawford, Senior Budget Assistant to the Governor, Office of Financial Management.

OTHER: Nancy Moffatt, Washington Association of School Business Officials; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Education Associates.