SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6220

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1992

Brief Description:  Changing provisions in the schools for the twenty‑first century program.

SPONSORS: Senators Oke, Bailey, Rinehart, Craswell, Erwin, Pelz, Murray and Conner

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Erwin, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Metcalf, Murray, Oke, Pelz, Rinehart, and A. Smith.

Staff:  Mich'l Prentice Needham (786‑7439)

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1992; January 30, 1992

BACKGROUND:

The Schools for the Twenty-First Century program was created by 1987 legislation.  Staff participating in the projects are required to have ten extra days for staff planning and training related to the project.  Loosening this requirement would provide the projects with flexibility in determining a lesser or greater number of extra days for selected staff.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that participating staff have ten extra days of planning and development time is amended to require a minimum of an average of ten additional days for all participating employees.  All certificated school staff, including certificated administrative staff, and classified school employees may be considered participating employees.  Compensation is based on per diem.

The State Board of Education shall report to the Legislature by January 15, 1995 on the Schools for the Twenty-First Century program.  The report shall include information on the improvements in student performance; the relationship between improvements in student performance and increasing local decision-making authority; and identification of restructuring that occurred with and without state waivers.  

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Loosening up the use of the 10 days would provide the projects with needed flexibility in arranging staff training and development.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  John Anderson, State Board of Education and OSPI; John Richardson, Sunnyslope Elementary Principal

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

The reference to per diem compensation for the additional days is deleted.