HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2918

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to education.

Brief Description:  Changing education provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Peery, Sommers and Dorn.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Appropriations, February 28, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives Sommers, Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Foreman; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; H. Myers; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Stevens; Talcott; Wang and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jack Daray (786-7178).

Background:  In May 1991 Governor Gardner created the Governor's Council on Education Reform and Funding.  The council, composed of legislative, school and business leaders, developed recommendations to improve the education system.  The final report of the council was completed in December 1992, and many of its recommendations were incorporated in the education reform legislation adopted by the 1993 Legislature (House Bill 1209).  

The recommendations included, but were not limited to, student learning goals, changes to the duties of the Commission on Student Learning, school improvement grants ("student learning improvement grants"), educator assistance programs, technology initiatives and social service collaboration programs.

STUDENT LEARNING IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is directed to provide student learning improvement grants to schools for the 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years.  The grants provide funds for additional time and resources for staff development and planning intended to improve student learning consistent with the student learning goals.

To the extent funds are appropriated, and for allocation purposes only, the amount of grants for the 1994-95 school year will be the equivalent of the salaries for three to five days times the number of full-time equivalent certificated staff, classified instructional aides, and classified secretaries who work in the school at the time of application.  For the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years, the equivalent of five days annually must be provided.  The allocation per full-time equivalent staff shall be determined in the budget. 

To be eligible for student learning improvement grants, school district boards of directors are required to: 1) adopt a policy regarding the sharing of instructional decisions with school staff, parents and community members; and 2) submit school-based applications that have been developed by school building personnel, parents and community members.  Each application shall list the activities to be performed, identify technical resources, include a proposed budget, and show that the application was approved by the school principal and representatives of teachers, parents and the community.

Procedures for school board approval of the applications are provided. If the above requirements are met, OSPI is directed to approve the grant application.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The number of planning days used to calculate the allocation of student learning improvement grants for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years are adjusted to be consistent with planning days to be funded for the 1994-95 school year.   OSPI is directed to approved grant applications unless they are not consistent with the aims of education reform or aren't used to increase the efforts towards reform above existing levels unless a financial emergency occurs.

Activities connected with the 1994-95 school year student improvement learning grants are authorized for the summer months of 1994.  Changes are made to clarify that student learning improvement grants can be for a variety of purposes consistent with the goals of education reform.  

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The directive to OSPI to disapprove grant applications which are inconsistent with education reform is omitted.  Language suggesting a broader use of grants in terms of education reform is not included.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.  The bill directs conditions of an expenditure, not an expenditure itself.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill provides oversight of grant application quality, OSPI would "temporarily suspend" an application and attempt to work out problems with an applicant to achieve compliance.

Testimony Against:  Assumptions of education reform include a diminished role of the state with decisions best made locally.  This bill is contrary to that goal.

Witnesses:  Ken Kanikeberg, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (pro); Karen Davis, Washington Education Association (pro with concerns on subsections 1 and 4); Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association (con); and Marcia Costello, Washington Association of School Administrators (con).