SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 725

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Cantwell, Rasmussen, Cole, Pruitt, Wang, Peery, Holland, Ebersole, Leonard, P. King, Unsoeld and Todd; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education)

Providing a pilot program to provide health and assessment services before school begins.

House Committe on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 24, 1988; February 25, 1988

Majority Report:     Do pass as amended.

     Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Kiskaddon, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bender, Craswell, Gaspard, Lee, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                February 26, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 25, 1988

BACKGROUND:

School districts engage in a series of evaluations of students, including health screening, readiness or placements tests and parent and student orientation, during the first few weeks of the school year.  These evaluations, while important, delay or interrupt the start of the regular school program.

SUMMARY:

School districts may offer health screening, school placement tests, learning readiness assessment and student and parent orientation before the school year begins.  The principal objective of the program is to maximize learning time by decreasing interruptions during the school year. School districts may use funds appropriated under the existing local education program enhancement funds for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Language is amended to clarify that districts may use block grant funds to pay for costs associated with offering certain services before the school year begins.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    available

Senate Committee - Testified:   Representative Maria Cantwell, sponsor (for); Monica Schmidt, State Board of Education (for)