SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5420

As of February 11, 2003

Title: An act relating to a special education teachers' conditional scholarship.

Brief Description: Creating a special education teachers' conditional scholarship program.

Sponsors: Senators McAuliffe, Regala, Eide, Prentice, Franklin, B. Sheldon, Rasmussen, Kohl-Welles, Fairley, Fraser, Doumit, Shin, Jacobsen and Schmidt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 2/13/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff: Dario de la Rosa (786-7484)

Background: The Washington State Legislature has created conditional loan scholarship programs, including the Future Teachers Scholarship Program and the Washington National Guard Scholarship Program, to serve as an incentive for the best and brightest to pursue a specific course of study at Washington institutions of higher education. Conditional scholarship programs are administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). HECB awards conditional scholarships to candidates who have high scholastic achievement and the capability to be role models for students, including minority students. The term "conditional scholarship" means a loan that is "forgiven" in whole or in part if the recipient renders service to the state of Washington in a specified capacity.

Summary of Bill: The Special Education Teachers' Conditional Scholarship program is established. Eligible students receive up to $3,000 per year for up to five years to attend a accredited institution of higher education in Washington State. A participant in the program agrees to serve as a special education teacher in the state of Washington for five years. HECB adopts rules and necessary guidelines for the administration of the program, including disbursing awards and collecting repayments, and establishing a planning committee to develop criteria for the screening and selection of recipients of the conditional scholarship.

Participants in the conditional scholarship program are responsible for repayment of the scholarship with interest if they fail to teach for five years in an approved special education program. Participants who satisfy only part of their obligation are responsible for payment on the unsatisfied portion of the obligation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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