BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to an extended school year; amending RCW 28A.300.138; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds Washington state students' average test scores fall behind the test scores of students from several other industrialized nations. The legislature finds that one cause of this disparity in scores involves the comparatively lower number of student contact days required by Washington state. In 1993, the legislature budgeted for restructuring grants on a per day equivalent basis to schools opting to undertake performance-based education. The purpose of this act is to state a policy of maintaining these funds in K-12 education after their restructuring purpose has been fulfilled, and to thereafter shift these funds to payment for additional student contact days.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.300.138 and 1993 c 336 s 301 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) To the extent funds are appropriated, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide student learning improvement grants ((~~for the 1994-95 through 1996-97 school years~~)). The purpose of the grants is to provide funds for additional time and resources for staff development and planning intended to improve student learning for all students, including students with diverse needs, consistent with the student learning goals in RCW 28A.150.210.

(2) To be eligible for student learning improvement grants, school district boards of directors shall:

(a) Adopt a policy regarding the sharing of instructional decisions with school staff, parents, and community members;

(b) Submit school-based applications that have been developed by school building personnel, parents, and community members. Each application shall:

(i) Enumerate specific activities to be carried out as part of the grant;

(ii) Identify the technical resources desired and availability of those resources;

(iii) Include a proposed budget; and

(iv) Indicate that the application was approved by the school principal and representatives of teachers, parents, and the community.

(3) The school board shall conduct at least one public hearing on schools' plans for using the grants before the board approves the plans. Boards may hear and approve more than one school's plan at a hearing. The board shall only submit applications for grants to the superintendent of public instruction if the board has approved the plans.

(4) If the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) of this section are met, the superintendent of public instruction shall approve the grant application.

(5) To the extent funds are appropriated, and for allocation purposes only, the amount of grants for the 1994-95 school year shall be based on time equivalent to no fewer than three days and not more than five days depending upon the number of grant applications received and on the number of full-time equivalent certificated staff, classified instructional aides, and classified secretaries who work in the school at the time of application. For the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years, the equivalent of five days annually shall be provided. After the 1996-97 school year, the equivalent of five days annually shall be provided to be used solely for increasing by five the number of regular student contact days. The allocation per full-time equivalent staff shall be determined in the biennial operating appropriations act. School districts shall use all funds received under this section solely for grants to schools and shall not use any portion of the funds for indirect costs.

(6) The state schools for the deaf and blind may apply for grants under this section.

(7) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt timelines and rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to administer the program. The superintendent may modify application requirements for schools that have schools for the twenty-first century projects under RCW 28A.630.100. A copy of the proposed rules shall be submitted to the joint select committee on education restructuring established in RCW 28A.630.950 at least forty-five days prior to adoption of the rules.

(8) Funding under this section shall not become a part of the state's basic program of education obligation as set forth under Article IX of the state Constitution.