BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to redirecting resources to the classroom; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. INTENT. The legislature finds that in order to improve student learning in Washington's public schools, school districts and the state need to take actions to ensure that the maximum amount of available funding and resources reach the classroom.

It is the intent of the legislature to redirect resources to classrooms through the reduction of state-level and school district central office administration by identifying and eliminating unnecessary state and school district administrative expenditures, and by reducing the need for these administrators through the reduction of state-mandated requirements and reporting demands.

It is the further intent of the legislature that the savings achieved through the reduction in administrative expenditures be used to increase the financial resources used for teachers, teacher assistants, and other classroom support staff, including salaries and benefits, and for textbooks, supplies, and technology used in the classroom. It is the intent of the legislature to redirect savings in administrative costs to the classroom, not to reduce funding levels for the public schools.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. REDUCING STATE-LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. (1) The joint select committee on education restructuring established in RCW 28A.630.950 shall review the current constitutional and statutory roles and responsibilities of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, the work force training and education coordinating board, and educational service districts, and by December 15, 1995, develop a recommendation to the legislature for creating a revised state-level education governance system. The new state-level governance system shall: (a) Focus on the improvement of student learning; (b) result in a reduction of state-level administrative expenditures; (c) provide school district staff and parents technical assistance and leadership; (d) result in minimal regulatory oversight; and (e) have clear lines of authority and accountability.

(2) This section shall expire December 31, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. REDUCING SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. (1) Before May 15, 1995, the superintendent of public instruction shall identify school districts that have excessively low classroom expenditures. In making the determination that a school district has excessively low classroom expenditures, the superintendent shall identify school districts with enrollments greater than five hundred full-time equivalent students that expended less than two-thirds of their total general fund expenditures on teaching and teaching support during the 1993-94 fiscal year as reported in annual financial statements (report F-196).

(2) Before June 1, 1995, the superintendent of public instruction shall notify the president of the board of directors of the identified districts, and require that the school district: (a) Conduct an analysis of its administrative and classroom expenditures; (b) take actions to reduce central office and other expenditures and redirect the savings to classrooms, or document any unique characteristics of the district that reduces the availability of funds for the classroom; and (c) submit a report by December 15, 1995, that includes the specific actions that the school district has taken, or plans to take, to increase classroom expenditures, or documentation that the district has unique characteristics that reduces its ability to increase classroom expenditures.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall summarize the information submitted by the districts and report to the fiscal and education policy committees of the legislature on or before January 15, 1996. If one or more of the fiscal and policy committees find that adequate progress is not being made in redirecting resources to the classroom, the committee or committees shall recommend to the legislature additional measures that should be taken.

(4) The process established in subsections (1) through (3) of this section shall be repeated during calendar year 1997, with the summary in subsection (3) of this section being submitted to the legislature before December 31, 1997.

(5) This section shall expire December 31, 1997.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. REDUCING THE NEED FOR CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS. (1) The six member school regulatory review task force is established. The sole purpose of the task force is to conduct a review of the rules of the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education to identify rules that inhibit, or do not enhance, student learning, including rules that place unnecessary procedural, governance, and paperwork burdens on school districts.

(2) The house of representatives and the senate shall each select one member of the task force. In addition, state-wide organizations representing school directors, school administrators, parents, and businesses shall each select one member. The chair shall be selected by members of the task force.

(3) The review, with recommendations for repeal or modification of identified rules, shall be completed by June 30, 1996.

(4) The superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education shall repeal or modify the identified rules as recommended by the task force before December 31, 1996.

(5) This section shall expire December 31, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Captions used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. 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 May 1, 1995.