HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5738

BYSenators Bailey, Rinehart, Gaspard, Smitherman, Bender, Lee, Fleming, Metcalf and Murray; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Changing requirements of student motivation, retention, and retrieval program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Horn, Jones, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to grant funds to selected school districts to assist in the development of student motivation, retention, and retrieval programs for students at risk of dropping out of school.  Funds appropriated for these purposes have been distributed to qualifying school districts for initial planning, development, and implementation of educational programs.

SUMMARY:

The Student Motivation, Retention and Retrieval Program is amended in the following ways:  Funds are distributed among qualifying school districts on a per pupil basis in accordance with the following state funding formula:  the appropriation for this purpose shall be divided by the total full-time equivalent student population of all qualifying districts as determined on October 1 of the first year of each biennium.  The eligibility of a school district or cooperative of school districts to receive program implementation funds is determined once every two years; remaining funds not requested by one or more eligible school districts may be expended or allocated to other qualifying school districts on a non-formula grant basis by SPI; language is deleted which relates to priority consideration to schools where no student motivation, retention and retrieval programs currently exist.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Don Johnson, Superintendent of Public Instruction; John Kvamme, Tacoma Public Schools.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This will allow the continuation of the student motivation and retention programs.  It will also allow the use of funds which have not been used by eligible districts to be distributed to other school districts.  These funds have been used to fund outreach programs to encourage students to return to school, special schools-within-schools to meet the special needs of students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out.  There is also the use of special skills based curriculum which provides students with skills that may seem more relevant to their needs, interests and abilities.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.