AN ACT
Relating to the award for excellence in education program; amending RCW
28A.625.041, 28B.80.255, and 28A.625.060; creating a new section; and providing
an effective date.
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.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. This
act shall take effect June 30, 1993.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. If
specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill
number, is not provided in the appropriations act of 1993, this act is null and
void.
