HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  SB 5395

Brief Description:  Changing the formula for determining average salaries for certificated instructional staff.

Background: The state makes payments to school districts for basic education (apportionment program) certificated instructional staff salaries based on a state salary allocation schedule. This salary allocation schedule is used by the state to account for differences in the education and experience of each district=s certificated instructional staff.  Typically, the greater the experience and education of such staff, the higher the pay.

State funding for special education certificated instructional staff is based on state salary allocations for basic education staff.  The experience and education of special education staff is not included in the calculation of the average salary for state allocation purposes.  As a result, the special education program is over-funded in some school districts and under-funded in others.  This problem was created in 1995 when the Legislature changed the special education funding formula to be based on a percentage of basic education funding per student.

There is a state salary compliance law which states that the actual average salary paid to a district=s basic education certificated instructional staff may not exceed the district=s average salary used by the state for basic education allocation purposes.

Summary:  Special education certificated instructional staff are included with basic education certificated instructional staff for determining a school district=s average salary for state allocation purposes.

The state salary compliance law is amended to combine basic and special education staff in determining a school district=s maximum average salary for certificated instructional staff in these programs.

Fiscal Note: Available.