SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5720

BYSenators Gaspard, Patterson, Barr, Bailey, Bauer and Hansen

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

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5720 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Craswell, Patterson, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  March 6, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 26, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Current law permits any school district to cooperate with one or more school districts to operate jointly any educational facility or educational programs or services.

In 1985 the Legislature authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop a pilot program to establish five-year pilot projects to encourage the joint operation of programs and services between small school districts.  For the purposes of the pilot 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.

Washington State University is authorized to provide technical assistance to school districts participating in the pilot program.

SUMMARY:

The sunset date for the small schools cooperative projects pilot program is repealed and the program is made ongoing.

SPI rules must include a definition of small school districts and any waiver granted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction may not exceed five years in length.  Districts participating in a cooperative project may request another waiver not to exceed five years.

Districts are encouraged to establish cooperative projects, primarily to increase curriculum programs and opportunities.

The SPI is authorized to provide technical assistance to districts interested in establishing a cooperative project and may contract with the Rural Education Center at Washington State University to provide such technical assistance.

The director of the Rural Education Center is authorized to establish a local funding match requirement as a condition for receiving technical assistance from the Center.

Districts participating in an approved cooperative project must submit annually to the SPI a report on the results of the project.  The SPI is to submit biennially a report to the Legislature on the cost-effectiveness of cooperative projects.

Appropriation:    $75,000 for the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Fiscal Note:      available

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation is reduced to $49,990 and the proviso that a certain portion of the appropriation go to the Rural Education Center is deleted.

Senate Committee - Testified: Ray Smith, Director, Rural Education Center-WSU; Dr. James Menzies, Superintendent, Tekoa School District; Dr. Brian Talbott, Superintendent, Educational Service District 101