SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1812
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Early Learning & K-12 Education, March 27, 2013
Title: An act relating to expenditure limitations on the urban school turnaround initiative grant.
Brief Description: Extending the time frame for making expenditures under the urban school turnaround initiative.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Haigh, Pettigrew, Springer, Haler, Hunt, Fagan, Morrell, Hunter, Hudgins and Santos).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/04/13, 69-29.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/25/13, 3/27/13 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Litzow, Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; McAuliffe, Ranking Member; Rolfes, Assistant Ranking Member; Billig, Brown, Cleveland, Fain, Hill, Mullet and Rivers.
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
Background: The Urban School Turnaround Initiative (USTI) was created in the 2012 Supplemental Budget to improve the achievement of students and close the achievement gap in two of the state's lowest-performing schools in the largest urban school district in the state. The selected schools must be within the same community, have significant educational achievement gaps, and be a mix of elementary, middle, or high schools. The budget language specifically provides that the funding is intended to be a one-time grant and must be used in the 2012-13 school year for intensive supplemental instruction, services, and materials in the selected schools.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must monitor the activities in the selected schools. Additionally, OSPI must submit a report to the Legislature by December 1, 2013, detailing the results of the USTI, including a comparison of student achievement in the selected schools compared to schools of comparable demographics that were not grant recipients.
The two schools selected to receive the USTI funds were Aki Kurose Middle School Academy and Rainier Beach High School in the Seattle School District. Each school received $1 million to be spent in the 2012-13 school year.
Summary of Bill: The requirement that the USTI-selected schools use the provided funds during the 2012-13 school year is removed. OSPI must enter into an expenditure agreement with the school district that requires any USTI funds remaining unspent on August 31, 2015, to be returned to the state.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The Legislature provided funding to turn around two of the lowest-performing schools. This does not require any additional funding to be provided but allows the schools to use the funding that was already provided over a longer period of time than just one school year. The schools each developed a plan on how to use the funding to make improvements, they are making progress, and they would like additional time to implement the planned changes.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Haigh, prime sponsor; Andrea Cobb, OSPI.