SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6620

                    As of February 1, 2000

Title:  An act relating to conditional scholarships for classified employees.

Brief Description:  Creating the classified employees as future teachers conditional scholarship program.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Kohl‑Welles, Thibaudeau, Eide, Winsley, Sheahan, B. Sheldon, Bauer, Finkbeiner, Spanel, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Rossi, Stevens, T. Sheldon, Patterson, Franklin, Hochstatter, Jacobsen, Oke and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/2/2000.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff:  William Bridges (786-7424)

Background:  Classified school employees are personnel who do not hold a professional education certificate issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or are employed by a school district in a position that does not require such a certificate.  Because classified employees have valuable experience in the school setting, many believe they make outstanding teachers when given the opportunity.

Summary of Bill: Findings.  The Legislature intends to encourage outstanding classified school employees to enter the teaching profession.

Definitions.  Various terms are defined.  For example, a Aconditional scholarship@ is a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part if the recipient becomes a teacher in an approved education program in the state, such as a public or private K-12 school.

Administration.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) administers the  program, with the assistance of two committees:  the planning committee and the screening  committee.

The planning committee develops criteria for the selection of scholarship recipients.  The criteria must emphasize excellence, including leadership ability, community contributions, and an ability to act as a role model for all students.  The criteria may also include, for approximately half of the recipients, requirements that those recipients are "needy@ as defined in the higher education statutes.  The HECB must form a selection committee to assist in the choosing of applicants.

The screening committee must select scholarship recipients.  The committee must be composed of teachers, administrators, classified employees, and leaders in government, business, and education.

Program.  The HECB may grant annual awards of up to $3,000 per recipient.  Recipients may participate in the program for up to five years.  In exchange for one year of loan repayment, recipients incur a two-year obligation to teach in an approved education program.  Recipients who do not fulfill their obligations must repay the remainder of the loan with interest.  The period for repayment is ten years.

Funding.  The program is funded by appropriations from the Legislature, private donations, or any other funds given to the HECB for this program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 1, 2000.

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