SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5322

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 1993

Brief Description:  Requiring funding of programs for highly capable students.

SPONSORS: Senators Talmadge, Moyer and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5322 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Pelz, Chairman; McAuliffe, Vice Chairman; Gaspard, Hochstatter, McDonald, Moyer, Nelson, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Skratek, A. Smith, and Winsley.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates: February 22, 1993; March 3, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, school districts may choose to provide programs for highly capable students.  Two hundred fifty-eight districts currently provide these programs.

During the 1991-93 biennium, districts choosing to provide a program for highly capable students received state funding based upon 1 and one-half percent of their full time equivalent enrollment.  State funds cannot be provided for more than 3 percent of the full-time equivalent enrollment.

Funding levels and the percent of children served are established in the appropriations act.  Programs for highly capable students are not part of the basic program of education that the state is required to fund.

Currently, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction does not provide for a full-time employee who is responsible for programs for highly capable students.

The State Board of Education does not require teachers to have specific endorsements to teach in a program for highly capable students.

SUMMARY:

School districts are required to provide programs for highly capable students.  The Legislature is required to appropriate funds for these programs.  Funds must be provided for at least 2 percent of a district's full-time equivalent enrollment.  The 3 percent ceiling on the percentage of students served with state funds is unchanged. 

Districts are required to provide educational opportunities recognizing each student's unique needs.  Language permitting districts to carry out that duty to the extent feasible is deleted.

In adopting rules for the program, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may address issues including:  hours of service, if and when it is appropriate to combine programs for highly capable students and other students, and evaluation standards.

The State Board of Education is required to adopt rules establishing qualifications for teachers of highly capable students.

Funds are appropriated for the Superintendent of Public Instruction to hire a full-time statewide coordinator of the program for highly capable students.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Provisions in the bill requiring the state to fund and districts to offer programs for highly capable students are deleted.  The appropriation for a full-time staff position at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is deleted.  An effective date is not specified.

Appropriation:  $140,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Programs for gifted students help students explore ideas not offered in the regular classroom.  These children need additional challenges.  Because of lack of room in the program some students are denied the opportunities that will help them reach their full capabilities.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Jevra Bashey, Bellevue School District (pro); Melanie Rockwell, parent (pro); Ryan Iverson, Julia LaVassar, Jenny Greenlee, students (pro); Lisa Iverson, parent/teacher (pro); Amanda Blocker, student, Yelm (pro); Ann Bandarii, teacher, Yelm (pro); Teresa Tseng, parent of gifted student (pro); Daisy Chan, parent of gifted student (pro)