Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Education Committee

HB 2748

Brief Description:  Requiring monitoring of programs for the education of highly capable students.

Sponsors:  Representatives Schual‑Berke and Anderson.

Hearing Date:  2/6/02

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786‑7111).

Background:

School districts, individually or jointly, have the option of providing programs for highly capable students.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to administer a program for these students.  One of the agency's program responsibilities involves allocating state funds to school districts that choose to provide programs for highly capable students.  The funds are provided to a district to supplement basic education funding for these students.  For the 2001‑03 biennium, the budget limits the percentage of highly capable students eligible for funding in each school district to 2 percent of a district's full‑time equivalent enrollment.

The 2001‑03 biennial budget includes $12,840,000 for these programs.  This amounts to $328.10 per student in the first year of the biennium and $328.05 per student in the second biennial year, excluding salary and benefit adjustments included in the budget.

Summary of Bill:

Beginning with the 2002‑03 school year, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will monitor programs for highly capable students at least once every five years.  The office may adopt rules for the program review and monitoring, and may conduct them concurrently with other program reviews.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on 2/5/02.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.