BILL REQ. #:  H-1956.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/24/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing the Washington state education council; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the long-term success and prosperity of individual Washington state citizens and the state as a whole depends on a high-quality public education system that begins with learning for young children and continues seamlessly through the common schools and a range of postsecondary and advanced education alternatives. All aspects of the state's public education system must be focused on the objective of student readiness and equitable student achievement. Therefore, the legislature intends to assign a single state entity with strategic oversight of the public education system; assign primary supervisory responsibility of that system to a single state agency; and initiate a transition to accomplish these goals.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The Washington state education council is established. The mission of the council is to recommend policies, strategies, and a governance structure to make the public education system student-focused and able to provide seamless service delivery across all education sectors and entities, including early learning, kindergarten through twelfth grade education in the common schools, and postsecondary education.
     (2) The Washington state education council is composed of twenty-three members who shall represent the full spectrum of interests and expertise in public education, from early learning through K-12 and postsecondary education. In developing lists of candidates for membership of the council, the organizations under this subsection (2) must include individuals who have knowledge and experience in working with historically underrepresented populations, including but not limited to students with disabilities, English language learners, and culturally diverse students and communities. The council shall comprise:
     (a) Two representatives of early learning programs and providers, selected from six candidates submitted by advocacy organizations and advisory committees on early learning;
     (b) One public school administrator, selected from three candidates submitted by the Washington association of school administrators;
     (c) One public school director, selected from three candidates submitted by the Washington state school directors' association;
     (d) One public school principal, selected from three candidates submitted by the association of Washington school principals;
     (e) One parent, selected from three candidates submitted by the Washington state parent teacher association;
     (f) One career and technical educator, selected from three candidates submitted by the Washington association for career and technical education;
     (g) One K-12 teacher, selected from three candidates submitted by employee associations representing teachers;
     (h) One community or technical college faculty member, selected from three candidates submitted by employee associations representing college faculty;
     (i) One faculty member from a four-year public institution of higher education, selected from three candidates submitted by the faculty senates of the four-year public colleges and universities;
     (j) One representative of classified employees, selected from three candidates submitted by employee associations representing such employees;
     (k) Two representatives of four-year public institutions of higher education, selected from six candidates submitted by the council of presidents;
     (l) Two representatives of community and technical colleges, selected from six candidates submitted by the Washington association of community and technical colleges;
     (m) One representative of private education, selected from three candidates submitted by associations representing approved private schools, private career schools, and independent colleges and universities;
     (n) One representative of the business community, selected from three candidates submitted by the partnership for learning;
     (o) One representative of the office of the governor;
     (p) The superintendent of public instruction; and
     (q) Four members of the legislature, with two appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one from each of the two major caucuses of the house of representatives and two appointed by the president of the senate, one from each of the two major caucuses of the senate.
     (3) Except for the superintendent of public instruction and the legislative members, members of the council are appointed by the governor. In making appointments, the governor shall consider the diversity of the population of the state and strive for a balanced representation of the state's geographic regions. The governor shall also ensure that the membership of the council includes individuals who have knowledge and experience in working with historically underrepresented populations, including but not limited to students with disabilities, English language learners, and culturally diverse students and communities.
     (4) The superintendent of public instruction shall convene the council and act as temporary chair until the council has an opportunity to select a chair and vice chair from among its members.
     (5) Ten voting members of the council constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The legislative members of the council may participate in meetings of the council but may not vote. Except for the legislative members, all other members of the council are voting members.
     (6) Members of the council, including the legislative members, shall not be compensated for their service on the council and shall not be reimbursed for travel expenses. In order to conserve resources, the council shall maximize the use of technology to conduct its work and shall meet only in public facilities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The intent of the legislature is:
     (a) To establish a primary strategic oversight and advocacy board for the public education system, to encompass early learning, K-12 education, and postsecondary education; and
     (b) To consolidate supervision over matters pertaining to the public education system within a primary state agency, to encompass early learning, K-12 education, and postsecondary education. The legislature intends that supervision include exercising the administrative, ministerial, and operational duties necessary to carry out the recommendations of the oversight and advocacy board and fulfilling duties otherwise assigned by law.
     (2) The legislature does not intend this act to affect the statutory authority of school district boards of directors, directors of educational service districts, or boards of regents or trustees of institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The Washington state education council shall develop a transition plan to implement the intent of the legislature as articulated in section 3 of this act.
     (2) The transition plan must address restructuring of the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the following state entities:
     (a) The higher education coordinating board established under RCW 28B.76.040;
     (b) The state board for community and technical colleges established under RCW 28B.50.050;
     (c) The state board of education established under RCW 28A.305.011;
     (d) The professional educator standards board established under RCW 28A.410.200;
     (e) The quality education council established under RCW 28A.290.010;
     (f) The achievement gap oversight and accountability committee established under RCW 28A.300.136;
     (g) The Washington state school directors' association established under RCW 28A.345.010;
     (h) The office of the education ombudsman established under RCW 43.06B.010;
     (i) The education research and data center established under RCW 43.41.400;
     (j) The department of early learning established under RCW 43.215.020;
     (k) The early learning advisory council established under RCW 43.215.090; and
     (l) The office of the superintendent of public instruction.
     (3) For the purposes of the transition plan, restructuring shall include reassigning, removing, or modifying the duties and responsibilities of the identified state entities and eliminating or modifying identified state entities as necessary to achieve more efficient and effective service delivery and more seamless oversight and policy for the public education system.
     (4) The transition plan must also address specific roles, responsibilities, membership, and appointment of the strategic oversight and advocacy board for the public education system, and the recommended means of designating the director of the primary state agency responsible for supervision of the public education system.
     (5) The council may establish advisory committees on specific topics to receive adequate input, expertise, and participation from education providers and community representatives in developing the transition plan. Each advisory committee must include at least three members of the council. Advisory committee members serve without compensation or state reimbursement for travel expenses.
     (6) The council must submit a preliminary progress report to the governor and the legislature by January 5, 2012.
     (7) The council must submit a proposed transition plan to restructure strategic oversight and supervision of the public education system, along with the legislation necessary to implement the plan, to the governor and the legislature by December 5, 2012.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The office of the superintendent of public instruction may assign no more than two full-time equivalent staff to support the Washington state education council, with one assigned to provide research support and one assigned to provide administrative support. The council may request assistance from other state agencies as needed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   This act expires June 30, 2013.