BILL REQ. #:  S-0967.1 

Read first time 01/25/2007.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to providing a salary bonus for teachers in high market demand subjects; adding a new section to chapter 28A.405 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.405 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to the statewide certificated instructional staff salary allocations in the state omnibus appropriations act, each school district shall receive allocations sufficient to fund a salary bonus equivalent to ten percent of its base pay for eligible certificated instructional staff who teach in math, science, and/or special education. To receive the salary bonus, individuals must be deemed an "expert" to teach math, science, or special education according to criteria developed and administered by the professional educator standards board.
     (2) In order to receive funding provided under this section, school districts shall certify to the office of superintendent of public instruction that they will provide the bonuses to the eligible certificated instructional staff in the percentage amount specified in this section and that the funding will not be used to supplant any other state or local funding for compensation for these staff.
     (3) The annual bonus 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). The amount of the bonus shall be prorated based on a full-time equivalent basis.
     (4) The Washington institute for public policy shall conduct an examination of the implementation and outcome of the math, science, and special education bonus program established in this section. The examination shall include, but is not limited to, a review of the following impacts: The effect on recruitment and retention of math, science, and special education teachers on a statewide and school district basis; the change in experience and other quality indicators of teaching performance of math, science, and special education instruction; the cost-effectiveness of the salary bonus program; and potential changes that would result in more effective math, science, and special education instruction and cost-effectiveness. The institute for public policy shall provide a report of its findings to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2015.
     (5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
     (a) "Eligible certificated instructional staff" means a classroom teacher spending at least fifty percent of his or her work day in direct classroom instruction in math and/or science at the middle, junior, or high school levels, and/or special education at all grade levels.
     (b) "Work day" means the time spent in direct classroom and lab instruction and/or mentor teaching responsibilities.
     (6) This section expires June 30, 2016.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the Washington institute for public policy at The Evergreen State College for the purposes of section 1(4) of this act.