HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     2SSB 5022

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to the Washington award for excellence in education program.

Brief Description:  Changing the Washington award for excellence in education program.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Bailey, Rinehart, von Reichbauer, Murray, Conner and Erwin).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Education, April 3, 1991, DPA;

Appropriations, April 8, 1991, DPA(ED & APP);

Passed House, April 18, 1991, 97-0;

Passed Legislature, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Betrozoff; Broback; Cole; Dorn; Holland; P. Johnson; Jones; Neher; Orr; Phillips; Rasmussen; Roland; and Valle.

Staff:  Susan Kirkpatrick (786-7291).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Education and as further amended by the Committee on Appropriations.  Signed by 29 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Morton, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Braddock; Brekke; Dorn; Ebersole; Ferguson; Fuhrman; Hine; Holland; Lisk; May; McLean; Mielke; Nealey; Peery; Pruitt; Rust; H. Sommers; Valle; Vance; Wang; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Barbara McLain (786-7153) and Susan Kirkpatrick (786-7291).

Background:  In 1986, the Washington Award for Excellence in Education Program was created to recognize teachers, principals, superintendents, and school boards for their leadership, contributions, and commitment to education.  In subsequent years, administrators other than principals and classified employees have been added to the groups who are recognized under the program.

The awards for teachers and principals/administrators include:  (1) waivers of tuition and fees to attend state colleges and universities and a stipend of $1,000 or less to cover costs incurred in taking courses for which the tuition and fees have been waived, or (2) a grant of $1,000 or less, if the teacher or principal/administrator at their discretion, elects to forego the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend.

Since summer programs are required to be self-supporting, award recipients are unable to use the tuition waivers to attend summer programs.  Additionally, there is no date specified in statute for recipients to complete courses.  According to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), this has created administrative difficulties for them.

Summary of Bill:

CATEGORIES OF AWARDS

Recipients of the Washington Award For Excellence receive one or more of the following:

1.A certificate presented by the governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or their designated representatives, at a public ceremony or ceremonies in appropriate locations.

2.An academic grant which shall be used to take courses at an institution of higher education.

a.An Institution of Higher Education is defined to include the following:

(i)   any public university, college, community college, or vocational-technical institute operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision; and

(ii)  any private institution located in Washington that is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board or any institution, branch, extension, or facility operating in Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating in another state which is a separately accredited member institution of an accrediting association recognized by the board.  Courses may be taken at a private institution if the grant does not exceed the current academic year full-time resident graduate tuition and services and fees in effect at the state-funded research universities, the grant is matched on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis by the private institution with actual money or by waiver of fees and the grant is not used for any courses that include any religious worship or exercise, or apply to any degree in religious, seminarian, or theological academic studies; and

(iii) a public or private institution in another state or country.  Courses may be taken at an out-of-state or out-of-country institution if the institution has an exchange program with an institution in Washington and the program is approved or recognized by the Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board or the institution meets HEC Board approval criteria, and the award recipient has submitted in writing to the HEC Board an explanation why the preferred course(s) are not available at an institution in Washington and the grant is not used for any courses that include any religious worship or exercise, or apply to any degree in religious, seminarian, or theological academic studies.

b.The academic grant shall not exceed the current academic year full-time resident graduate tuition for courses taken at one of the state's research universities or the state's regional universities or The Evergreen State College at the time the grant is awarded.

c.Recipients have four years to complete courses fully paid for by the academic grant.  Recipients may receive 30 clock hours of continuing education toward the 150 clock hours of required continuing education if the courses paid for by the grant are related to the recipient's responsibilities or assignments.

3.The recognition stipend is not to exceed $1,000.

4.The educational grant is not to exceed $1,000.  It is awarded by SPI as long as a written grant application is submitted to SPI within one year after the award is received.  The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.

Recipients of the award must notify SPI within one year of receiving the award whether they want to claim the academic grant, the recognition stipend, or the educational grant.  SPI is required to notify the HEC Board of those recipients who select the academic grant.  The academic grants, recognition stipends, and educational grants are not considered compensation for salary compliance purposes.

CATEGORIES OF RECIPIENTS

1.The program shall recognize the following on an annual basis:

a.Five teachers from each congressional district of the state;

b.Five principals or administrators from the state;

c.One school district superintendent from the state;

d.One school district board of directors from the state;

e.Three classified staff from each congressional district of the state.

2.Teachers and principals or administrators may choose one of the following:

a.Academic grant;

b.Recognition stipend; or

c.Educational grant.

3.Superintendents may choose one of the following:

a.Recognition stipend; or

b.Educational grant.

4.School boards receive an educational grant not to exceed $2,500.

ADMINISTRATION

SPI establishes the selection criteria for the Washington Award for Excellence in Education Program and administers the grants, except for the academic grants.  The HEC Board administers the academic grants part of the program.

SURVEY AND REPORT

SPI is required to conduct a survey to determine the interest of classified employees in being provided the option of selecting an academic grant, educational grant, or recognition stipend as part of their award.  SPI is required to report to the Legislature by December 1, 1991, with recommendations and costs.

NULL AND VOID

The bill is made contingent on funding in the budget.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  (Education): The bill gives teachers receiving the award the opportunity to take out-of-state classes.

(Appropriations): None.

Testimony Against:  (Education): None.

(Appropriations): None.

Witnesses:  (Education): Bob Maier, Washington Education Association (in favor).

(Appropriations): None.