Title: An act relating to educational staff associate positions.

Brief Description: Determining years of service for educational staff associate positions.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Benson, McAuliffe, Regala, Prentice, Esser, Franklin, Johnson, Keiser and Rockefeller.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 2/17/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff: Brian Jeffries (786-7422)

Background: Through the school apportionment process, the state allocates full-time equivalent (FTE) funding to school districts for basic education certificated instructional staff. Besides teachers, certificated instructional staff include educational staff associates who meet certification requirements adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE). Educational staff associates include occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists.

Funding for all certificated instructional staff salaries is based on a state salary allocation schedule that is implemented in the state's biennial operating budget. The salary allocation schedule is used by the state to account for differences in the education and experience of each district's certificated instructional staff. One factor that the schedule recognizes is the number of years a certificated instructional staff has worked within the state school system. It will also recognize years of experience teaching in an approved private school if certification is required to teach in that school and if the school is located in the state. Typically, the greater the experience and education of certificated instructional staff, the greater the allocation from the state for salary purposes. Actual salaries are negotiated locally, within certain state established constraints. However, about 240 school districts use the state salary allocation schedule to determine salaries for certificated instructional staff.

Summary of Bill: Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, for occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists, the state salary allocation schedule will recognize years of professional experience obtained in school or non-school positions as occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists.

One year of service in nonschool positions will count as one year of school service. A maximum of five years of nonschool service may be included in the determination of years of service.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 9, 2005.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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