HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1248

BYRepresentatives Rust, Schoon, Rayburn, Winsley, Rasmussen, Peery, Spanel, Cole, R. King, Kremen, Pruitt, P. King and Brumsickle

Establishing the academic improvement award program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FEBRUARY 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Since 1985, there have been discussions of ways to encourage faculty members in individual schools to develop new methods of improving student performance.  These discussions have emphasized the importance of creating a cooperative relationship between the teachers by emphasizing the performance of the entire building rather than rewarding individual teachers on the performance of their single classroom.

SUMMARY:

The academic improvement award program is created.  The purpose of the program is to reward the faculty members of individual schools for improving their student's test scores on the basic academic skills of reading, math and language.  The program shall provide both a financial incentive and creative freedom to the faculty.  Participation in this program is voluntary.

In making the awards, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall calculate a three-year historical median on the standardized academic achievements tests chosen by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The three year median score based on the preceding three years shall be compared to the current year's test score for nonhigh schools.  The percentage of improvement shall then be calculated for each nonhigh building.  The scores will then be ranked to determine the winners.

For high schools there shall be a comparison of the three year median test scores and current year test score.  The percentage of improvement shall then be added to the percentage decrease in the dropout rate for the high school. The combined scores will then be ranked to determine the winners.

Awards shall be given to one high school and one nonhigh school, in each of the eight congressional districts in the state, showing the greatest improvement. Each of the winning schools shall receive $50,000.  The school showing the greatest improvement statewide shall receive an additional $5,000.  A winning elementary school shall give one-half of its winnings to be divided among its feeder schools.

Recipient schools shall decide how to spend their awards. The money shall not be used to raise salaries.  School districts shall encourage contributions from private sources.

An appropriation of one million dollars is made from the general fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for this purpose.  Of the one million dollars, two hundred thousand dollars may be spent if matched by private contributions.

Appropriation:    The sum of one million dollars is appropriated to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Syd Locke.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The purpose of this award is to encourage improvement that involves the cooperation and creativity of teachers, students, parents and the community.  By competing against itself, each school can set its goals and be rewarded for its own efforts and improvements in test scores.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.