BILL REQ. #:  H-3924.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to bonuses for certain instructional staff certified by the national board for professional teaching standards; amending RCW 28A.405.415; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.405.415 and 2007 c 398 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Certificated instructional staff who have attained certification from the national board for professional teaching standards shall receive a bonus each year in which they maintain the certification. The bonus shall be calculated as follows: The annual bonus shall be five thousand dollars in the 2007-08 school year. Thereafter, the annual bonus shall increase by inflation.
     (2) Certificated instructional staff who have attained certification from the national board for professional teaching standards shall be eligible for bonuses in addition to that provided by subsection (1) of this section if the individual is in an instructional assignment in ((a)):
     (a) An elementary school in which at least seventy percent of the students qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program;
     (b) A middle school in which at least sixty percent of the students qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program; or
     (c) A high school in which at least fifty percent of the students qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program.
     (3) The amount of the additional bonus under subsection (2) of this section for those meeting the qualifications of subsection (2) of this section is five thousand dollars. For the purpose of implementing subsection (2) of this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt a standard definition of elementary school, middle school, and high school based on the grade levels of students enrolled in the school.
     (4) The bonuses provided under this section are in addition to compensation received under a district's salary schedule adopted in accordance with RCW 28A.405.200 and shall not be included in calculations of a district's average salary and associated salary limitations under RCW 28A.400.200.
     (5) The bonuses provided under this section shall be paid in a lump sum amount and shall not be included in the definition of "earnable compensation" under RCW 41.32.010(10).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Section 1 of this act applies beginning with the 2007-08 school year and thereafter.