S-0226

AN ACT Relating to the Washington award for excellence in education program; amending RCW 28A.625.030, 28A.625.050, and 28A.625.060; reenacting and amending RCW 28A.625.020; adding new sections to chapter 28A.625 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.80 RCW; repealing RCW 28A.625.040, 28A.625.070, and 28B.15.547; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.625.020 and 1990 c 77 s 1 and 1990 c 33 s 514 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

((~~(1)~~)) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish an annual award program for excellence in education to recognize teachers, principals, administrators, classified staff, school district superintendents, and school boards for their leadership, contributions, and commitment to education. The program shall recognize annually:

((~~(a)~~)) (1) Five teachers from each congressional district of the state. One individual must be an elementary level teacher, one must be a junior high or middle school level teacher, and one must be a secondary level teacher. Teachers shall include educational staff associates;

((~~(b)~~)) (2) Five principals or administrators from the state;

((~~(c)~~)) (3) One school district superintendent from the state;

((~~(d)~~)) (4) One school district board of directors from the state; and

((~~(e)~~)) (5) Three classified staff from each congressional district of the state.

((Not more than three teachers, three classified staff, and three principals or administrators from each congressional district and one superintendent and one school board from the state may be recognized and receive awards in any school year.

(2) The awards for teachers, classified staff, and principals or administrators shall include certificates presented by the governor and the superintendent of public instruction at a public ceremony or ceremonies in appropriate locations.

~~(3) In addition to certificates under subsection (2) of this section, awards for teachers and principals or administrators shall include:~~

(a) A waiver of tuition and fees under RCW 28B.15.547 and a stipend not to exceed one thousand dollars to cover costs incurred in taking courses for which the tuition and fees have been waived under this subsection and RCW 28B.15.547. The stipend shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.200; or

(b) Teachers and principals or administrators, at their discretion, may elect to forego the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend under subsection (3) of this section and apply for a grant not to exceed one thousand dollars, which grant shall be awarded under the provisions of RCW 28A.625.060. Within one year of receiving the award for excellence in education, teachers and principals or administrators shall notify the superintendent of public instruction in writing of their decision to apply for a grant or to receive the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend under subsection (3) of this section.))

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.625.030 and 1986 c 147 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The award for teachers under the Washington award for excellence in education program shall be named the "Christa McAuliffe Award, in honor and memory of Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe." As the first teacher and private citizen selected nationally to voyage into space, Christa McAuliffe exemplified what is exciting and positive about the teaching profession. Her contributions within the scope of the nation's education system helped to show that education can and should be a vital and dynamic experience for all participants. Christa McAuliffe's chosen profession encompasses learning by discovery and her desire to make new discoveries was reflected by her participation in the nation's space program.

The selection of Christa McAuliffe as the first teacher in space was directly linked to Washington state in that then superintendent of public instruction Dr. Frank Brouillet both appointed and served as a member of the national panel which selected Christa McAuliffe.

The tragic loss of the life of Christa McAuliffe on the flight of the space shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986, will be remembered through the legacy she gave to her family, friends, relatives, students, colleagues, the education profession, and the nation: a model example of striving toward excellence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.625 RCW 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 and principals or administrators shall include one of the following:

(a) Except as provided under section 7(1) of this act, 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 full-time equivalent resident graduate tuition for courses taken at one of the state's research universities and shall not exceed the current 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.625 RCW to read as follows:

Courses paid for under section 3(2)(a) of this act shall be completed within four years after the academic grant is received.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.625 RCW to read as follows:

Nothing in sections 4 through 6 and 7 of this act prohibits a recipient of the Christa McAuliffe award from transferring the academic grant under section 3(2)(a) of this act to another certificated instructional staff member. Any such transfer obligates the transferee to the conditions of sections 4 and 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28A.625 RCW to read as follows:

Teachers and principals or administrators who receive a Washington award for excellence in education shall receive thirty clock hours toward the one hundred fifty clock hours of continuing education required every five years by the state board of education. The provisions of this section are nontransferable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Teachers and principals or administrators who select an academic grant under section 3(2)(a) of this act shall use the grant to attend a state institution of higher education. The academic grant may be used for courses at an independent college or university in this state subject to the following requirements:

(a) "Independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit educational institution, the main campus of which is permanently situated in the state, open to residents of the state, and accredited by the northwest association of schools and colleges, and other institutions as may be developed that are approved by the higher education coordinating board as meeting equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this section;

(b) The academic grant shall not exceed, on a yearly basis, the yearly, full-time, resident, graduate tuition and services and activities fees in effect at the state-funded research universities;

(c) The academic grant shall be contingent upon 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

(d) The academic grant may not be used toward any theological courses.

(2) Teachers and principals or administrators who select an academic grant under section 3(2)(a) of this act 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 accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the higher education coordinating board; and

(c) The recipient of the Washington award for excellence in education shall submit 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.

(3) All academic grants awarded under section 3(2)(a) of this act shall be administered by the higher education coordinating board. The board shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW providing for the disbursal of the academic grants and any repayments from recipients who do not meet the obligations of the academic grants.

Sec. 8. RCW 28A.625.050 and 1990 c 33 s 516 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to carry out the purposes of RCW 28A.625.010 through 28A.625.070. These rules shall include establishing the selection criteria for the Washington award for excellence in education program. The superintendent ((~~of public instruction~~)) is encouraged to consult with teachers, educational staff associates, principals, administrators, classified employees, superintendents, and school board members in developing the selection criteria. Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 28A.625.020(1) ((~~(a) and (b)~~)) and (2), such rules may allow for the selection of individuals whose teaching or administrative duties, or both, may encompass multiple grade level or building assignments, or both.

Sec. 9. RCW 28A.625.060 and 1990 c 33 s 517 are each amended to read as follows:

Teachers ((~~and~~)), principals or administrators, and superintendents who have received an award for excellence in education ((~~under RCW 28A.625.020 shall be eligible~~)) and choose to apply for an educational grant ((~~in lieu of receiving a waiver of tuition and fees and a stipend as provided under RCW 28A.625.020(3). The superintendent of public instruction~~)) under section 3 of this act shall ((~~award~~)) be awarded the grant by the superintendent of public instruction as long as a written grant application is submitted to the superintendent ((~~of public instruction~~)) within one year after the award was received. The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 28A.625.040 and 1990 c 33 s 515 & 1986 c 147 s 4;

(2) RCW 28A.625.070 and 1990 c 33 s 518 & 1986 c 147 s 8; and

(3) RCW 28B.15.547 and 1986 c 147 s 6.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.