SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6243

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Education, February 6, 2002

Title:  An act relating to evaluating the current governance structure of the K‑12 public school system in Washington state.

Brief Description:  Requiring an evaluation of the current governance structure of the K‑12 public school system.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Eide, Carlson, Kastama, Rasmussen and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  1/28/02, 2/6/02 [DPS‑WM, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6243 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Carlson, Finkbeiner, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen and Regala.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Hochstatter, Johnson and Zarelli.

Staff:  Kelly Simpson (786‑7403)

Background:  The K-12 public school governance structure at the state level includes (in addition to the Legislature and the Governor) the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission, the Professional Educator Standards Board, and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The substitute bill, effective July 1, 2003, (1) expires the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission, (2) transfers the commission's current duties to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and (3) expands the State Board of Education by adding four gubernatorial appointees.  Additionally, it makes technical changes.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill required education agencies to conduct an evaluation of the state-level K-12 public school governance structure.  It was changed in its entirety by the substitute version.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 18, 2002.

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

Testimony For:  Considering the important education reform efforts in Washington, and the fact that state‑level education groups continually ask the Legislature for more resources, the Legislature should examine the current K‑12 governance structure.  Additionally, all education groups should be working together in a coordinated effort, but currently the system is somewhat fragmented.

Testimony Against:  The required timeline in the current bill (December 2002) is too quick.  More time should be provided to conduct a thorough evaluation.  Additionally, the current bill provides no funding to support the evaluation.  Finally, higher education groups should be included in the evaluation, in light of the recent P‑16 Roundtable meeting.

Testified:  Larry Davis, SBE (con); Terry Bergeson, OSPI (concerns).