Brief Description: Regarding the joint task force on basic education finance.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Tom, McDermott and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education
House Committee on Education

Background: In 2007 the Legislature created the Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance (task force), which was directed to review the definition of basic education and the current basic education funding formulas, develop options for a new funding structure and all necessary formulas, and propose a new definition of basic education.

The Washington Institution for Public Policy supports the task force and was required to provide three reports to the task force:
   1)   an initial report by September 15, 2007, proposing an initial plan of action, reporting dates, and timelines;
   2)   a second report by December 1, 2007, with at least two but not more than four options for allocating school employee compensation; and
   3)   a final report by September 15, 2008, with at least two but no more than four options for revising the remaining K-12 funding structure, a timeline for phasing in the full adoption of the new funding structure, and a projection of the expected effect of the investment made under the new funding structure.

There was no date provided for the completion of the work of the task force.

Summary: The task force must specifically consider equalizing salary allocations. By December 1, 2008, the task force must report the options developed for a new funding structure and all necessary formulas, and propose a new definition of basic education.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      96   0

Effective: June 12, 2008