BILL REQ. #:  S-3525.1 

Read first time 02/03/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing competitive wages for beginning teacher salaries; amending RCW 28A.400.200; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The Washington Constitution establishes "the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children ... ." Providing quality education for all children in Washington requires well-qualified and dedicated school employees. The number one priority identified by the compensation technical work group was the need to increase starting salaries for educators in order to attract a wider pool of the highest quality candidates. A comparable wage analysis indicated that beginning salaries allocated by the state were more than fifteen thousand dollars below what was needed for competitive salaries among comparable professions. Historically, teacher salaries have been more than two times the minimum wage. The legislature finds that certain jurisdictions within the state have passed minimum wages that will place upward pressure on wages and may make it more difficult to attract and retain a well-qualified educator workforce. Therefore, the legislature intends to ensure that beginning pay for teachers be set at the comparable wage established by the compensation technical work group as adjusted for inflation. The legislature intends to ensure that beginning teacher salaries are amply funded to attract and retain the highest quality educators.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.400.200 and 2010 c 235 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Every school district board of directors shall fix, alter, allow, and order paid salaries and compensation for all district employees in conformance with this section.
     (2)(a) Salaries for certificated instructional staff shall not be less than the salary provided in the appropriations act in the statewide salary allocation schedule for an employee with a baccalaureate degree and zero years of service((; and)).
     (b) Salaries for certificated instructional staff with a master's degree shall not be less than the salary provided in the appropriations act in the statewide salary allocation schedule for an employee with a master's degree and zero years of service.
     (c) In the 2014-15 school year, the minimum salary for any level of experience and education provided in any salary allocation model used in state funding formulas for certificated instructional staff allocations shall not be less than fifty-two thousand seventy-four dollars. For each subsequent school year, the minimum salary in the salary allocation schedule in the appropriations act shall be adjusted in accordance with RCW 28A.400.205.
     (3)(a) The actual average salary paid to certificated instructional staff shall not exceed the district's average certificated instructional staff salary used for the state basic education allocations for that school year as determined pursuant to RCW 28A.150.410.
     (b) Fringe benefit contributions for certificated instructional staff shall be included as salary under (a) of this subsection only to the extent that the district's actual average benefit contribution exceeds the amount of the insurance benefits allocation provided per certificated instructional staff unit in the state operating appropriations act in effect at the time the compensation is payable. For purposes of this section, fringe benefits shall not include payment for unused leave for illness or injury under RCW 28A.400.210; employer contributions for old age survivors insurance, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, and retirement benefits under the Washington state retirement system; or employer contributions for health benefits in excess of the insurance benefits allocation provided per certificated instructional staff unit in the state operating appropriations act in effect at the time the compensation is payable. A school district may not use state funds to provide employer contributions for such excess health benefits.
     (c) Salary and benefits for certificated instructional staff in programs other than basic education shall be consistent with the salary and benefits paid to certificated instructional staff in the basic education program.
     (4) Salaries and benefits for certificated instructional staff may exceed the limitations in subsection (3) of this section only by separate contract for additional time, for additional responsibilities, for incentives, or for implementing specific measurable innovative activities, including professional development, specified by the school district to: (a) Close one or more achievement gaps, (b) focus on development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities, or (c) provide arts education. Beginning September 1, 2011, school districts shall annually provide a brief description of the innovative activities included in any supplemental contract to the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall summarize the district information and submit an annual report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate. Supplemental contracts shall not cause the state to incur any present or future funding obligation. Supplemental contracts shall be subject to the collective bargaining provisions of chapter 41.59 RCW and the provisions of RCW 28A.405.240, shall not exceed one year, and if not renewed shall not constitute adverse change in accordance with RCW 28A.405.300 through 28A.405.380. No district may enter into a supplemental contract under this subsection for the provision of services which are a part of the basic education program required by Article IX, section 3 of the state Constitution.
     (5) Employee benefit plans offered by any district shall comply with RCW 28A.400.350 ((and)), 28A.400.275, and 28A.400.280.