HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1299

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to the use of student learning improvement grants.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to student improvement grants.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brumsickle, Cole and Dickerson; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  1/31/95, 2/2/95, 2/17/95 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Elliot, Vice Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Poulsen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Clements; Dickerson; G. Fisher; Hatfield; Pelesky; Radcliff; Smith; Talcott; B. Thomas; Thompson and Veloria.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Fuhrman and McMahan.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  The Student Learning Improvement grant program was established by the 1993 Legislature in ESHB 1209.  The program was recommended by the Governor's Council on Education Reform and Funding (GCERF), and according to GCERF, the purpose of the grants are "to provide additional resources for non-student days for schools to design and implement site-based professional development, and to design and implement new site-based, higher performance delivery systems."

The three-year grant program began in the 1994-95 school year.  Decisions regarding how the funds will be used are to be made at each school with the involvement of the principal, parents, teachers, classified staff,  and community members.  Funds are allocated on the number of certificated staff in each building, but may be used for both certificated and classified staff and for other purposes.   Activities funded by the grants are to be consistent with the learning goals identified by the Legislature in ESHB 1209.

The types of planning and staff development programs being funded include the development of strategies for increasing parent involvement, technology training, site-based decision-making, and student performance assessment.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Student Learning Improvement Grant program is amended in the following manner:

-- Activities funded with grants must be consistent with the "Essential Academic Learning requirements" being developed by the Commission on Student Learning;

--  By the end of the 1995-96 school year, schools receiving  grants must develop and keep on file a building plan designed to attain the student learning goals and essential academic learning requirements.  Each school also must have  on file documentation of staff development and other activities undertaken to implement the plan;

  --  Each school receiving a grant must complete an annual evaluation.   A summary of the evaluation is to be made available to schools through the Internet; and

-- The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to provide planning assistance to schools through the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning and other offices.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Adds language that requires the activities funded by the grant be used to improve student learning consistent with the essential academic learning requirements.  Delays the requirement that schools complete a building plan until the end of the 1995-96 school year instead of the beginning of the school year.  Removes a requirement that SPI ensure schools are conducting activities that are consistent with "best practices research."  Makes a number of technical changes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  These grants are critical in our efforts to improve public schools, but we need to connect the grants more with the student learning goals and essential academic learning requirements.    While we support the intent of the bill, we do not want SPI making a decision whether schools are using "best practices research."

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Walter Ball, Association of Washington School Principals (pro); Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association (concerns);  Hugh Walkup and John Anderson, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association (pro); Lynn McKinnon, Public School Employees; and Mike Bigelow, Office of Financial Management (pro).