_______________________________________________
SECOND
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1027
_______________________________________________
AS
AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed
Legislature - 1995 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th
Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/21/95.
Redirecting school
administrative resources to the classroom.
AN ACT
Relating to redirecting resources to the classroom; creating new sections;
providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that in order to improve student learning in Washington's
public schools, school districts and the state need to take actions to use the
maximum amount of available funding and resources to improve student
achievement. The legislature intends to study the state-level education
governance system to improve student learning and to reduce unnecessary
regulatory oversight. The legislature also finds that if school districts are
encouraged to review their expenditures, school districts can develop
strategies that will increase the amount of resources used in the classroom.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The
joint select committee on education restructuring established in RCW
28A.630.950 shall review the current constitutional and statutory roles and
responsibilities of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the
state board of education, the work force training and education coordinating
board, the commission on student learning, and educational service districts,
and by December 15, 1996, develop a recommendation to the legislature for
creating a revised state-level education governance system. The new
state-level governance system shall: (a) Focus on the improvement of student
learning; (b) result in a reduction of state-level administrative expenditures;
(c) provide school district staff and parents technical assistance and
leadership; (d) result in minimal regulatory oversight; and (e) have clear
lines of authority and accountability.
(2)
The select committee may continue its review of laws that inhibit, or do not
enhance, student learning.
(3)
This section shall expire December 31, 1997.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. (1)
School district boards of directors are strongly encouraged to review school
district expenditures, and to take actions that will increase the percentage of
district funds that are used to support the classroom. In order to assist
school districts in this effort, the school district financial review program is
created. The purpose of the program is to provide funding to school districts
to conduct financial reviews and to develop strategies that will increase the
amount of resources that are used in the classroom.
(2)
The program shall be administered by the superintendent of public instruction,
or a public, nonprofit, or private contractor as designated by the
superintendent.
(3)
The superintendent, or his or her designee, shall establish application and
approval requirements for the program. A minimum fifty percent financial match
shall be required of school districts. Districts with enrollments larger than
five hundred full-time equivalent students that expended less than two-thirds
of their total general fund expenditures on teaching and teaching support
during the 1993-94 fiscal year shall receive priority in the allocation of
funds.
(4)
School districts that receive grants shall submit a report to the
superintendent, or his or her designee, by December 31, 1995, of actions that
the district has taken, or plans to take, to increase classroom expenditures.
The superintendent, or his or her designee, shall summarize the information
submitted by the districts and present a summary to the fiscal and education
policy committees of the legislature before January 15, 1996. If one or more
of the fiscal or policy committees find that adequate progress is not being
made in redirecting resources to the classroom, the committee or committees
shall recommend to the legislature additional measures that should be taken.
(5)
The process established in subsections (1) through (4) of this section shall be
repeated during calendar year 1997, with the summary in subsection (4) of this
section being submitted to the legislature before December 31, 1997.
(6)
This section shall expire December 31, 1997.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. If
specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill
number, is not provided by June 30, 1995, in the omnibus appropriations act,
this act is null and void.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act
is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and shall take effect May 1, 1995.
