SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6171

BYSenators Rinehart, Bailey, Murray, Barr, Madsen, Metcalf, Bender, Smitherman, Moore, Bauer, Owen, Gaspard, Williams, Talmadge, von Reichbauer, Rasmussen, Fleming, Patrick, Conner, Johnson and Niemi

Establishing a magnet school program.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990; January 30, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6717 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Bender, Benitz, Fleming, Gaspard, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  February 1, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 30, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Some school districts in Washington and around the country have either voluntarily or by court order implemented plans to achieve desegregated schools.  One approach to responding to the issue of desegregation has been the development of magnet school programs.  It is suggested that state support for magnet school programs would help some Washington school districts develop or further develop desegregation programs.

SUMMARY:

A Magnet Schools Grant Program is established and is administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).  The purpose of the program is to:  provide eligible districts financial assistance to operate and establish magnet schools; help eligible districts meet special needs related to eliminating minority group segregation and discrimination among students and faculty; encourage voluntary elimination, reduction or prevention of minority group isolation in schools with substantial numbers of minority students; and encourage instructional programs in magnet schools to help attending students strengthen their knowledge of subjects and acquire vocational skills.

The term "magnet school" is defined as a school or education center that offers a special curriculum or special programs capable of attracting substantial numbers of students of different racial backgrounds.

A district is eligible if it has a minority student population in excess of 25 percent and:  it is implementing a plan pursuant to a court order requiring the desegregation of minority group children or faculty; or it is voluntarily implementing or will voluntarily implement a plan to reduce, eliminate or prevent minority group isolation.

Magnet school grant funds may be used for the following start-up costs:  planning and promotional activities; acquisition of books, materials and equipment; compensation of instructional staff at magnet schools; transportation costs; and encouraging parental involvement.

Eligible districts must file an annual application with the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).  Application criteria include a description of how grant funds will be used to promote desegregation and assurances that greater parental decision-making and involvement will be encouraged.

In approving applications, the SPI must give priority to the number of minority students in the district and the number of minority students involved in the desegregation plan; the district's need for assistance in carrying out a desegregation plan; the likelihood of success of the desegregation program or project; and the level of collaboration among the district, higher education institutions, community-based organizations and others in developing the program or project.

The SPI will distribute funds annually by June 30, based on districts' full-time equivalent student enrollment, and districts may spend no more than 10 percent of the funds on planning.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Grants and the state Magnet School Grant Program are established for one year only.  Start-up costs are funded for one year only.  All references to continuing grants and applications in future years are deleted.  Grants are distributed to eligible districts based upon the October 1989 fulltime equivalent student enrollment.

Appropriation:    $7 million to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Ellie Shellgren, Venus Placer Barber, Deb Wilson, Seattle School District; Jerry McCauth and Al Svinth, Tacoma School District; Linda Thompson Black, City of Seattle, Mayor's Office; Natasha Dunn, Josh Weldin, Sarah Roberts, Maren Mills, Garfield High School