FINAL BILL REPORT

2SSB 5720

                                  C 268 L 88

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Patterson, Barr, Bailey, Bauer and Hansen)

Revising the authority for cooperative agreements between or among school districts.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committe on Education

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The 1985 Legislature authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop a program to establish five-year pilot projects for the joint operation of programs and services between small school districts.  For the purposes of the program, which shall expire September 1, 1990, the SPI is authorized to waive certain provisions of law which create financial disincentives to cooperation among small school districts.  Making the pilot program ongoing could encourage more districts to enter into cooperative agreements.

SUMMARY:

The sunset date for the small schools cooperative projects program is repealed and the program is made ongoing.  Districts are encouraged to establish cooperative projects with an emphasis to increase curriculum programs and opportunities.

Small school districts eligible to participate in cooperative projects are those which receive state funds as small high school districts.  Subject to rules adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), second class districts which are not small high school districts may also participate.

Districts must submit an application to the SPI for approval to implement a cooperative project.  The application must include a description of the project, expected improvements in curriculum offerings and educational opportunities, statutory requirements or administrative rules which may need to be waived to implement the project, and other information.

Waivers granted by the SPI must be reviewed every five years and districts must reapply for waivers after five years if they wish to continue the cooperative project.

Districts participating in a cooperative project shall be considered a single district for salary compliance purposes if they adopt identical salary schedules.  For purposes of computing fringe benefit calculations, districts may use the greater of the highest amount provided by the districts in the 1986-87 school year, or the amount provided in the state budget in effect at the time of the cooperative project.

A high school district which sends its students to another district under a cooperative project is not required to become a non-high school district if the cooperative project exceeds two years in duration.

Districts must submit reports to the SPI in the third and fifth years of the cooperative project.  SPI must submit a report to the Legislature on the cooperative projects program every third odd-numbered year.

The SPI may contract with other agencies to provide technical assistance to districts interested in developing and implementing a cooperative project.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    47     0

      House 98   0

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988