H-4249

AN ACT Relating to the award for excellence in education program; and amending RCW 28A.625.041, 28B.80.255, and 28A.625.060.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.625.041 and 1991 c 255 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All recipients of the Washington award for excellence in education shall receive 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) In addition to certificates under subsection (1) of this section, awards for teachers, classified employees, and principals or administrators shall include one of the following:

(a) Except as provided under RCW 28B.80.255, an academic grant which shall be used to take courses at a state institution of higher education. 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 and shall not exceed the current academic year full‑time resident graduate tuition for courses taken at one of the state's regional universities or The Evergreen State College. The academic grant shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.200; or

(b) A recognition stipend not to exceed one thousand dollars. The stipend shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.200; or

(c) An educational grant not to exceed one thousand dollars. The educational grant shall be awarded under RCW 28A.625.060 and shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.200.

(3) In addition to certificates under subsection (1) of this section, the award for the superintendent shall include one of the following:

(a) A recognition stipend not to exceed one thousand dollars. The stipend shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.200; or

(b) An educational grant not to exceed one thousand dollars. The educational grant shall be awarded under RCW 28A.625.060 and shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.200.

(4) In addition to certificates under subsection (1) of this section, the award for the school board shall include an educational grant not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars. The educational grant shall be awarded under RCW 28A.625.060.

(5) Within one year of receiving the Washington award for excellence in education, teachers, classified employees, principals or administrators, and the school district superintendent shall notify the superintendent of public instruction in writing of their decision to apply for an academic grant, a recognition stipend, or an educational grant as provided under subsections (2) and (3) of this section. The superintendent shall notify the higher education coordinating board of those recipients who select the academic grant.

Sec. 2. RCW 28B.80.255 and 1991 c 255 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Teachers, classified employees, and principals or administrators who select an academic grant under RCW 28A.625.041(2)(a) shall use the grant to attend a state public institution of higher education located in the state of Washington, except that the academic grant may be used for courses at a private institution of higher education in the state of Washington if the conditions in subsection (3) of this section are met, and the academic grant may be used for courses at a public or a private institution of higher education in another state or country if the conditions in subsection (4) of this section are met.

(2) "Institution of higher education" means:

(a) Any public university, college, community college, or vocational‑technical institute operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof; or

(b) Any other university, college, school, or institute in the state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level which is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board. Any institution, branch, extension, or facility operating within the state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be a separately accredited member institution of an accrediting association recognized by the board.

(3) Teachers, classified employees, and principals or administrators who select an academic grant under RCW 28A.625.041(2)(a) may use the grant for courses at any private institution as defined in subsection (2)(b) of this section subject to the following conditions:

(a) The academic grant shall not exceed the current academic year full‑time resident graduate tuition and the services and activities fees in effect at the state‑funded research universities;

(b) The academic grant shall be contingent on the private institution matching on at least a dollar‑for‑dollar basis, either with actual money or by waiver of fees, the amount of the academic grant received by the recipient from the state; and

(c) The academic grant may not be used for any courses that include any religious worship or exercise, or apply to any degree in religious, seminarian, or theological academic studies.

(4) Teachers, classified employees, and principals or administrators who select an academic grant under RCW 28A.625.041(2)(a) may use the grant for courses at a public or private higher education institution in another state or country subject to the following conditions:

(a) The institution has an exchange program with a public or private higher education institution in Washington and the exchange program is approved or recognized by the higher education coordinating board; or

(b) The institution is approved or recognized by the higher education coordinating board; and

(c) The recipient of the Washington award for excellence in education has submitted in writing to the higher education coordinating board an explanation of why the preferred course or courses are not available at a public or private institution in Washington; and

(d) The academic grant may not be used for any courses that include any religious worship or exercise, or apply to any degree in religious, seminarian, or theological academic studies.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.625.060 and 1991 c 255 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

Teachers, classified employees, principals or administrators, and superintendents who have received an award for excellence in education and choose to apply for an educational grant under RCW 28A.625.041 shall be awarded the grant by the superintendent of public instruction as long as a written grant application is submitted to the superintendent within one year after the award was received. The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.