BILL REQ. #:  H-4438.1 

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

     AN ACT Relating to enhancing resources and assistance in school districts with concentrations of English language learner students; amending RCW 28A.165.055; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) Research has shown there is a negative impact on student achievement in schools with a very large proportion of low-income students and that this effect is larger than would otherwise be expected without the poverty concentration. This multiplier effect is the reason that federal Title I programs require a special schoolwide approach to remediation in schools with greater than forty percent low-income students. State allocations for the learning assistance program also provide a resource enhancement for school districts with greater than forty percent low-income students.
     (2) Research has not been conducted regarding a possible multiplier effect on student achievement from high concentrations of English language learner students. However, it is very clear that English language learner students face significant challenges in meeting the state's academic learning standards. Resources from the transitional bilingual instruction program are intended to provide these students with English language competencies, but a significant proportion of these students need additional learning opportunities and assistance if they are expected to meet the same standards as other students. Some school districts in the state have a disproportionate number of both English language learner and low-income students and thus face a disproportionate challenge in assisting these students.
     (3) Therefore, the legislature intends to provide a resource enhancement to school districts through the learning assistance program based on high concentrations of English language learner students.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.165.055 and 2005 c 489 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each school district with an approved program is eligible for state funds provided for the learning assistance program. The funds shall be appropriated for the learning assistance program in accordance with the biennial appropriations act. The distribution formula is for school district allocation purposes only. The distribution formula shall be based on one or more family income factors measuring economic need.
     (2) In addition to the funds allocated to eligible school districts on the basis of family income factors, enhanced funds shall be allocated for school districts where more than twenty percent of students are eligible for and enrolled in the transitional bilingual instruction program under chapter 28A.180 RCW as provided in this subsection.
     (a) If, in the prior school year, a district's percent of October headcount student enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve who are enrolled in the transitional bilingual instruction program, based on an average of the program headcount taken in October and May, exceeds twenty percent, twenty percent shall be subtracted from the district's percent transitional bilingual instruction program enrollment and the resulting percent shall be multiplied by the district's kindergarten through twelve annual average full-time equivalent enrollment for the prior school year.
     (b) The number calculated under (a) of this subsection shall be the number of additional funded students for purposes of this subsection, to be multiplied by the per-funded student allocation rates specified in the omnibus appropriations act.
     (c) School districts are only eligible for the enhanced funds under this subsection if their percentage of October headcount enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve eligible for free or reduced price lunch exceeded forty percent in the prior school year.