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SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1027
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AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 1995 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995
Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/21/95.
Redirecting
school administrative resources to the classroom.
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. 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 use the maximum amount
of available funding and resources to improve student achievement. The
legislature intends to study the state-level education governance system to
improve student learning and to reduce unnecessary regulatory oversight. The
legislature also finds that if school districts are encouraged to review their
expenditures, school districts can develop strategies that will increase the
amount of resources used in the classroom.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. (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, the
commission on student learning, and educational service districts, and by
December 15, 1996, 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) The select
committee may continue its review of laws that inhibit, or do not enhance,
student learning.
(3) This section shall
expire December 31, 1997.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. (1) School district
boards of directors are strongly encouraged to review school district
expenditures, and to take actions that will increase the percentage of district
funds that are used to support the classroom. In order to assist school
districts in this effort, the school district financial review program is
created. The purpose of the program is to provide funding to school districts
to conduct financial reviews and to develop strategies that will increase the
amount of resources that are used in the classroom.
(2) The program shall
be administered by the superintendent of public instruction, or a public,
nonprofit, or private contractor as designated by the superintendent.
(3) The superintendent,
or his or her designee, shall establish application and approval requirements
for the program. A minimum fifty percent financial match shall be required of
school districts. Districts with enrollments larger 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 shall receive priority in the allocation of funds.
(4) School districts
that receive grants shall submit a report to the superintendent, or his or her
designee, by December 31, 1995, of actions that the district has taken, or
plans to take, to increase classroom expenditures. The superintendent, or his
or her designee, shall summarize the information submitted by the districts and
present a summary to the fiscal and education policy committees of the
legislature before January 15, 1996. If one or more of the fiscal or 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.
(5) The process
established in subsections (1) through (4) of this section shall be repeated
during calendar year 1997, with the summary in subsection (4) of this section
being submitted to the legislature before December 31, 1997.
(6) This section shall
expire December 31, 1997.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. If specific funding for
the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided
by June 30, 1995, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
5. 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.
