SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6241
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 of January 31, 2014
Title: An act relating to requiring that reports be submitted to legislative education committees.
Brief Description: Requiring that reports be submitted to legislative education committees.
Sponsors: Senators King, Rolfes, Litzow, Fain, Frockt, Billig, Chase and McAuliffe.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/31/14.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
Background: In 2009 the Legislature directed the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to review all annual compliance reports required of school districts and make recommendations about which reports should be (1) discontinued; (2) integrated into OSPI's database; or (3) maintained in their current form. In March 2010, OSPI identified that there were 84 compliance reports being required of school districts for 2009-10. Seventy-seven of the reports were identified to continue to be collected in their current form; four reports were to be integrated into the K-12 longitudinal education data system the following year; and three reports were to be eliminated for 2010-11 due to legislative changes and the loss of federal funding. Therefore, in the year 2010-11 seven reports, or 8.3 percent, were to be eliminated or incorporated in the K-12 longitudinal education data system.
The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed by Congress in 1965 to, among other things, authorize federally funded education programs that are administered by the states. In 2002 Congress amended the ESEA and reauthorized it as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The ESEA/NCLB was scheduled to be reauthorized in 2008; however, Congress has not passed reauthorization legislation. In the absence of a reauthorized ESEA/NCLB, the U.S. Department of Education approved provided waivers to certain requirements of the ESEA/NCLB. Washington applied and was granted a waiver in July 2012. Part of the ESEA/NCLB waiver required a reduction in duplication and unnecessary administrative and reporting requirements of school districts by the state.
Summary of Bill: By December 1, 2014:
the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee must review all annual compliance reports required of school districts and recommend to the legislative education committees which reports should be (1) discontinued; (2) integrated into OSPI's database; or (3) maintained in their current form; and
OSPI must report to the legislative education committees on the actions taken in accordance with the federal ESEA/NCLB waiver to reduce duplication and unnecessary reporting requirements, and which requirements were (1) discontinued; (2) integrated into OSPI's database; or (3) maintained in their current form.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: All of these required reports overload small school districts. OSPI reviewed the list of reports five years ago but only three reports were discontinued. Hopefully the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee can find more reports that can be discontinued so that reporting is not so onerous. I recognize that data is very helpful in making decisions in our schools. The intent is to not end reporting of data that is useful, but to end the reports that are no longer being used because things have changed with electronic reporting and with other ways that schools operate.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator King, prime sponsor.