SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5925

               As Passed Senate, March 19, 1997

Title:  An act relating to certificated instructional staff salaries.

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

Sponsors:  Senator West.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/4/97 [DP-WM].

Passed Senate, 3/19/97, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hochstatter, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Goings, Johnson, McAuliffe and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Karen Carter (786-7424)

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 of Bill:  The act limits the educational credits 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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 25, 1997

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 1997.

Testimony For:  Washington's standing budget policy is not to reimburse districts for educational credits earned by teachers, unrelated to their instructional assignment.  Codifying these quality control guidelines makes sense and adds predictability to the apportionment system.  The act is appropriate and rewards schools whose teachers advance in knowledge and technology skills in response to state education reform.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified: PRO:  Senator West, prime sponsor; Dwayne Slate, WSSDA; Karen Davis, WEA.