H-4412              _______________________________________________

                                          SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1568

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Todd, Leonard, Crane, Pruitt and Ebersole)

Read first time 1/22/88 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to excellence in education; and amending RCW 28A.03.523, 28A.03.532, and 28A.03.535.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 147, Laws of 1986 as amended by section 209, chapter 2, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28A.03.523 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish an annual award program for excellence in education to recognize teachers, principals, administrators, school district superintendents, and school boards for their leadership, contributions, and commitment to education.  The program shall recognize annually:

          (a) Three teachers from each congressional district of the state.  One individual must be an elementary level teacher, one must be a junior high or middle school level teacher, and one must be a secondary level teacher.  Teachers shall include educational staff associates;

          (b) Three principals or administrators from each congressional district of the state((.  One individual must be an elementary building principal, one must be a junior high or middle school building principal, and one must be a secondary building principal));

          (c) One school district superintendent from the state; and

          (d) One school district board of directors from the state.

          Not more than three teachers and three principals or administrators from each congressional district and one superintendent and one school board from the state may be recognized and receive awards in any school year.

          (2) The awards for teachers and principals or administrators shall include certificates presented by the governor and the superintendent of public instruction at a public ceremony or ceremonies in appropriate locations.

          (3) In addition to certificates under subsection (2) of this section, awards for teachers and principals or administrators shall include:

          (a) A waiver of tuition and fees under RCW 28B.15.547 and a stipend not to exceed one thousand dollars to cover costs incurred in taking courses for which the tuition and fees have been waived under this subsection and RCW 28B.15.547.  The stipend shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.58.0951; or

          (b) Teachers and principals or administrators, at their discretion, may elect to forego the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend under subsection (3) of this section and apply for a grant not to exceed one thousand dollars, which grant shall be awarded under the provisions of RCW 28A.03.535.  Within one year of receiving the award for excellence in education, teachers and principals or administrators shall notify the superintendent of public instruction in writing of their decision to apply for a grant or to receive the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend under subsection (3) of this section.

        Sec. 2.  Section 5, chapter 147, Laws of 1986 and RCW 28A.03.532 are each amended to read as follows:

          The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW to carry out the purposes of this chapter.  These rules shall include establishing the selection criteria for the Washington award for excellence in education program.  The superintendent of public instruction is encouraged to consult with teachers, principals, administrators, superintendents, and school board members in developing the selection criteria.  Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 28A.03.523(1) (a) and (b), such rules may allow for the selection of individuals whose teaching or administrative duties, or both, may encompass multiple grade level or building assignments, or both.

        Sec. 3.  Section 7, chapter 147, Laws of 1986 and RCW 28A.03.535 are each amended to read as follows:

          Teachers and principals or administrators who have received an award for excellence in education under RCW 28A.03.523 shall be eligible to apply for an educational grant in lieu of receiving a waiver of tuition and fees and a stipend as provided under RCW 28A.03.523(3).  The superintendent of public instruction shall award the grant as long as a written grant application is submitted to the superintendent of public instruction within one year after the award was received.  The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.