5919-S2 Not Adopt 3/18/91.1530

SSB 5919 - S AMD

By Senators Rinehart, Murray, Skratek, Vognild, Niemi, Talmadge, Conner, Williams, Jesernig, Pelz, Moore, Snyder, Gaspard, Bauer, Rasmussen, Hansen, L. Kreidler, Sutherland, A. Smith, McMullen, Madsen, Owen and Stratton

                             Not Adopted 3/18/91 - Roll Call 24-25

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.    The legislature finds that all Washington citizens must have the opportunity to learn and that we must have the courage to create and support schools that will teach people the skills they need to thrive.

    The legislature finds that providing early childhood education and assistance, reducing class size, and funding block grants for all schools directly improve the performance and experience of each student."

    "Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.215.100 and 1985 c 418 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    It is the intent of the legislature to establish a preschool state education and assistance program.  This special assistance program is a voluntary enrichment program to help prepare some children to enter the common school system and shall be offered only as funds are available to all eligible children not served by a comparable federally funded program.  This program is not a part of the basic program of education which must be fully funded by the legislature under Article IX, section 1 of the state Constitution."

    "Sec. 3.  RCW 28A.215.180 and 1990 c 33 s 214 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((For the purposes of RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908, the department may award state support under RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.160 to increase the numbers of eligible children assisted by the federal or state-supported preschool programs in this state by up to five thousand additional children.  Priority shall be given to groups in those geographical areas which include a high percentage of families qualifying under the federal "at risk" criteria.))  The overall program funding level shall be based on an average grant per child consistent with state appropriations made for program costs:  PROVIDED, That programs addressing special needs of selected groups or communities shall be recognized in the department's rules."

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.    By March 30, 1992, the legislature shall adopt a plan and the necessary implementing legislation to lower class size throughout our state's common schools to a level that places Washington within the top ten states in the nation for low class sizes by 2001."

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a program to provide school districts, from appropriated funds, local education program enhancement funds.

    (2) A school district shall be eligible to receive an allocation from appropriated funds if the school district's board of directors has:

    (a) Assessed the needs of the schools within the district;

    (b) Prioritized the identified needs; and

    (c) Developed an expenditure plan for the allocation and an evaluation methodology to assess benefits to students.

    (3) School districts receiving moneys pursuant to this section shall expend such moneys to meet educational needs identified by the district within the following program areas:

    (a) Prevention and intervention services in the elementary grades;

    (b) Reduction of class size;

    (c) Early childhood education;

    (d) Student-at-risk programs, including dropout prevention and retrieval, and substance abuse awareness and prevention;

    (e) Staff development and in-service programs;

    (f) Student logical reasoning and analytical skill development;

    (g) Programs for highly capable students;

    (h) Programs involving students in community services;

    (i) Senior citizen volunteer programs;

    (j) Those sections under this act requiring a match of local funds to state funds; and

    (k) Other purposes that enhance a school district's basic education program.

    (4) Program enhancements funded pursuant to this section do not fall within the definition of basic education for purposes of Article IX of the state Constitution and the state's funding duty thereunder.

    (5)(a) Allocations to eligible school districts shall be calculated on the basis of average annual full time equivalent enrollment.  For school districts enrolling not more than one hundred average annual full time equivalent students, and for small school plants within any school district designated as remote and necessary schools, the allocations shall be determined as follows:

    (i) Enrollment of not more than sixty average annual full time equivalent students in grades kindergarten through six shall generate funding based on sixty full time equivalent students;

    (ii) Enrollment of not more than twenty average annual full time equivalent students in grades seven and eight shall generate funding based on twenty full time equivalent students; and

    (iii) Enrollment of sixty or fewer average annual full time equivalent students in grades nine through twelve shall generate funding based on sixty full time equivalent students.

    (b) Allocations shall be distributed on a school-year basis pursuant to RCW 28A.510.250."