Title: An act relating to awards for the improvement of student achievement.

Brief Description: Creating the apple award program.

Sponsors: Representatives P. Sullivan and Santos.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/11/05, 93-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 3/31/05 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 4/4/05 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair; Berkey, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Rasmussen and Shin.

Staff: Brian Jeffries (786-7422)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background: By law, each year, public school students in the fourth, seventh, and tenth grades must take the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in reading, writing, and mathematics.

The 2004 Legislature provided $100,000 in the capital budget for Apple Award Construction Achievement Grants. The grants were provided to the four public elementary schools that had the greatest increase in the percentage of students who met the state standards in reading, writing, and mathematics on the WASL from the 2002-03 to the 2003-04 school year. Each school received $25,000 to use for capital construction in the school or in the community. The decision on how to use the money was made by the students.

Summary of Amended Bill: The Apple Award program is created to honor public elementary schools that have the greatest combined average increase in the percentage of students who meet the state standard on the fourth grade reading, writing, and mathematics WASL. The program will be administered by the State Board of Education.

Within the amounts appropriated for this purpose, each school selected for the award will receive $25,000 to use for capital construction projects that have been selected by the school's students and approved by the school board. The projects may occur at the school or on public land in the community, city, or county.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: Language is added that clarifies that the Apple Award is to be awarded within the appropriation for this purpose.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: No one.