FINAL BILL REPORT
ESSB 6242
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. |
C 171 L 14
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning waivers from the one hundred eighty-day school year requirement.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators King, Rolfes, Litzow, Billig, Fain, Chase and McAuliffe).
Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education
House Committee on Education
Background: In 2009 the Legislature created a pilot program authorizing the State Board of Education (SBE) to grant waivers from the 180-day school year calendar to enable small school districts to operate on a flexible school calendar. The school districts are still required to meet the minimum number of instructional hours required by law. The waivers are limited to two waivers for small school districts with fewer than 150 students and three waivers for school districts with 151–500 students. The waivers may be granted for up to three years. After each school year SBE must determine whether the flexible calendar is adversely affecting student learning. If SBE determines that student learning is adversely affected then the school district must discontinue the flexible calendar. The Bickleton and Patterson school districts have implemented a four-day school week using these waivers since January 2010. The pilot program will end August 31, 2014.
The 2009 legislation also required SBE to recommend whether the waiver program should be continued, modified, or allowed to end. At the November 2013 SBE meeting, SBE recommended that the waivers be allowed to continue for an interim period.
Summary: SBE's authority to grant certain small school districts a waiver to the 180-school day to operate on a flexible school calendar is continued through August 31, 2017. The waivers remain limited to two districts with fewer than 150 students and three districts with 150–500 students. In addition to other waiver application requirements, districts must explain the impact of the waiver on employees in education support positions. Terminology is modified addressing the requirement that school districts which obtain the waivers must continue to provide the minimum instructional hour offerings but the requirement is maintained. The requirement that SBE provide a report to the Legislature regarding the waivers is removed.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate | 48 | 0 | |
House | 86 | 9 | (House amended) |
Senate | 49 | 0 | (Senate concurred) |
Effective: | June 12, 2014 |