FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5925

                         PARTIAL VETO

                           C 90 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Conditioning the use of college credits for the teachers' salary schedule.

Sponsors:  Senator West.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committee on Education

Background:  Through the apportionment program, the state makes payments to school districts for basic education, certificated instructional staff salaries based on a state salary allocation schedule.  This state 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 greater the allocation from the state for salary purposes.  Actual salaries are negotiated locally, within certain state established constraints.

The 1995-97 Appropriations Act limited the educational credits a district may count as having advanced the experience level of their certificated instructional staff. Those limits are scheduled to expire with the budget act on June 30, 1997.

Summary:  The act limits the educational credits school districts may count as having advanced the experience level of their basic education, certificated instructional staff. For state apportionment purposes, educational credits earned by certificated instructional staff after September 1, 1995 are eligible for application to the state salary allocation schedule only if the course content:

Cis consistent with a school-based plan for mastery of student learning goals;

Cpertains to the individual's current assignment or expected assignment for the subsequent school year;

Cis necessary to obtain an endorsement as prescribed by the State Board of Education;

Cis specifically required to obtain advanced levels of certification; or

Cis included in a college or university degree program that pertains to the individual's current assignment, or potential future assignment, as a certificated instructional staff.

"Credits" are defined to mean college quarter hour credits and equivalent credits for approved in-service, approved continuing education, or approved internship hours computed in accordance with current law.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to adopt rules and standards consistent with the limits established by this act.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     98 0

Effective:  July 27, 1997

Partial Veto Summary:  The emergency clause is deleted.