HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6220

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to schools for the twenty-first century.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions in the schools for the twenty‑first century program.

Sponsor(s):  Senators Oke, Bailey, Rinehart, Craswell, Erwin, Pelz, Murray and Conner.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 24, 1992, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Broback; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Dorn; P. Johnson; Jones; J. Kohl; Neher; Orr; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle.

Staff:  Margaret Allen (786-7191).

Background:  The Schools for the Twenty-First Century Pilot Program was established in 1987, to allow selected schools to restructure operations through waivers of some statutes and regulations.  The express purpose of the program was to determine whether increasing local decision-making authority would produce more effective learning.  To that end, the program was designed to enable selected schools or school districts to restructure some operations and to develop model programs that would improve student performance.  The program, which expires June 30, 1994, includes evaluation of projects and accountability for student progress.

Schools of school districts receiving twenty-first century grants must employ participating certificated employees, and classified employees whose primary duties are the daily educational instruction of students, for at least 10 additional days beyond the general state-funded school year.  Current law is ambiguous as to whether certificated administrative staff may be included in the requirement.  Participating schools or school districts are reimbursed for 10 extra days only.

The purpose of the requirement is to provide extra time for staff in-service training, program planning, visiting other schools, and especially program evaluation as the Twenty-First Century Pilot Program enters its final years.  Experience reportedly has shown that, depending on an employee's role in the program, some employees need more than 10 additional days, whereas other employees need fewer than 10 days. 

It has been suggested that allowing the allocation of the extra days among participating employees as needed, with the total number of days allocated equal to at least 10 times the number of participating employees, would result in more efficient use of staff time.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The requirement that participating staff be employed for at least 10 extra days is amended to require a minimum of an average of 10 additional days for all participating employees.  All certificated staff, including certificated administrative staff, and classified school employees may be considered participating employees. 

The state Board of Education shall submit by January 15, 1995, to the Legislature and governor, a final report on the Schools for the Twenty-First Century Program.  The report shall include information on improvements in student performance, the relationship between improvements in student performance and increases in local decision-making authority, and identification of restructuring that occurred with and without waivers of state statutes or administrative rules.

The state Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, from available funds, may contract for an independent evaluation of the Schools for the Twenty-First Century Program.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill provided that compensation for the 10 extra days' employment was based on per diem.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill provides participating schools with the flexibility needed to administer the program most efficiently.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Oke, prime sponsor (supports).