SSB 5163

Brief Description: Providing for educational data on students from military families.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Hobbs, Roach, Rolfes, O'Ban, Hatfield, Litzow, McCoy, Mullet, Conway, Fain, Chase and Darneille).

Hearing Date: 3/12/15

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

Background:

K-12 Data Collection.

The Comprehensive Education Data and Research System is a longitudinal data warehouse of educational data. Districts report data on courses, teachers, and students to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Course data includes standardized state course codes. Teacher data includes demographics, certifications, and schedules. Student data includes demographics, enrollment information, schedules, grades, and program participation.

The K-12 Data Governance Group (Group) in the OSPI was established by the Legislature to assist in the design and implementation of the K-12 data system for financial, student, and educator data. The Group includes representatives of the Education Data Center, the OSPI, the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the State Board of Education, and school district staff.

Military Presence in Washington.

There are numerous military installations across Washington, including: Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the central Puget Sound area; Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane; Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island; and the Yakima Training Center.

The military population in this state includes active duty personnel, as well as members of the reserves and the Washington National Guard (Guard). "Active duty" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States. Members of the reserves perform part-time duties, but rotate through mobilizations to full-time duty. When not on active duty, reserve soldiers typically train one weekend per month.

The Guard is made up of more than 8,000 citizen soldiers and airmen. At the call of the Governor, the Guard mobilizes and deploys during times of state emergency to augment local jurisdictions and responders in their efforts to protect lives and property. The Guard is also subject to the call of the United States President to serve as part of the total United State military.

Summary of Bill:

No later than the 2016-17 school year, in addition to other data that must be collected and reported to the OSPI, school districts must also report data on newly enrolled students from military families. "Newly enrolled" students includes transfer students. The Group must develop best practice guidelines for the collection and regular updating of this data.

"Students from military families" means:

• Students with a parent or guardian who is a member of the active duty U.S. armed forces.

• Students with a parent or guardian who is a member of the reserves of the U.S. armed forces or a member of the Washington National Guard.

Data must be collected and submitted separately for each of the above categories.

In addition, the OSPI must conduct an analysis of the average number of students from military families who are special education students, including state, district, and school-level information. To protect the privacy of students, the data from schools and districts that have fewer than ten students from military families who are special education students shall not be reported. This analysis must be reported to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2017.

A null and void clause is included, providing that if specific funding for the purposes of the act is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act, the act is null and void.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.