SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5632

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, Gaspard and von Reichbauer; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

Establishing the learning assistance program.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bender, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Don Bennett (786-7424)

                  February 18, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 9, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5632 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Fleming, Kreidler, Moore, Owen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Vognild, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Mike Williams (786-7439)

                  April 20, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In Seattle School District, et al v. State of Washington (1983), the Thurston County Superior Court, through Judge Doran, held that "the Legislature has concluded that special educational programs for students deficient in basic skills achievement are necessary to meet the current needs of those students in satisfaction of Article IX, Sections 1 and 2 (Wash. Const.).  The State must fully fund such programs."  The court further noted "the Remediation Assistance Program by virtue of the needs it serves, was brought within the constitutionally mandated programs by the Legislature in 1979."

Current law provides for school districts which operate approved remedial assistance programs to receive state funding.  School districts are not required to participate.  Only students in grades two through six who are below grade level in reading, mathematics, or language arts are eligible to be served.  The district identifies these students by a placement test of proficiency in these "basic skills."  Class size is limited to five students with instruction provided by a trained person acting under the direct supervision and control of a certificated teacher.  The number of students eligible in a school district is determined by multiplying the percentage of students who score in the lowest quartile of the test, as compared to national norms, by the number of students enrolled in the district in grades two through six.  Funding was also provided for programs serving students in grades seven through nine in the 1985-87 operating budget.

SUMMARY:

A learning assistance program is established to provide supplemental, special learning assistance to students who are deficient in the achievement of basic skills.  "Basic skills" means reading, mathematics, and language arts as well as readiness activities associated with such skills.  These students' needs are to be met as early as possible and special assistance will continue as long as deficiencies remain.

Each school district will develop a program of learning assistance based upon a district plan for meeting needs of eligible students identified through a comprehensive assessment.  The district's annual plan is developed in consultation with an advisory committee comprised of parents, including parents of students served by the program, teachers, principals, administrators, and school directors.  The school district program shall identify the process for determining the basic skills academic needs of students, the skills needs and grade levels to be addressed by the program, an evaluation component based on performance objectives, supplementary services designed to meet the needs of participating students, and record-keeping procedures for student progress.

Each school district will submit an annual learning assistance program application to the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) for approval.  Each district with an approved program will be eligible for state funds made available for learning assistance.  The number of students eligible to participate is determined by multiplying the percentage of students scoring in the lowest quartile, as compared to national norms, by the number of students enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve.  SPI may use a five-year average in making this calculation.

SPI shall monitor the learning assistance programs to assure compliance with approved program standards at least once every three years.  Local evaluations of programs shall be sent to SPI annually.  SPI has authority to promulgate rules necessary to implement the learning assistance program.

The remedial assistance program established by Chapter 149, Laws of 1979, codified as RCW 28A.41.400 through 28A.41.414, is repealed.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION: Judy Hartmann, Governmental Liaison, SPI; John Pearson, Administrator for Special Education, Tacoma School District; Howard Coble, Executive Director, WASA; Ben Edlund, Assistant Executive Director, WSSDA; Bob Pickles, Director of Instruction, WEA

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The grade levels to be served by the learning assistance program are reduced from kindergarten through grade twelve to kindergarten through grade nine.  Assistance within the regular classroom may be provided through specialized instruction for participating students, hiring consulting teachers or instructional staff support, or in-service training for classroom teachers.  This does not limit other modes of support and instruction which may be provided for students who are below grade level in basic skills.