BILL REQ. #:  S-0863.2 

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

     AN ACT Relating to basic education funding; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   As the world has changed, the requirements of what a basic education is have also changed. The state's definition of basic education and the corresponding funding formulas must be regularly updated in order to keep pace with evolving educational practices and increasing state and federal requirements and to ensure that all schools have the resources they need to help give all students the opportunity to be fully prepared to compete in a global economy. The work of Washington learns steering committee and the K-12 advisory committee provides a valuable starting point from which to evaluate the current educational system and develop a unique, transparent, and stable educational funding system for Washington that supports the goals and the vision of a world-class learner-focused K-12 educational system that were established in the final Washington learns report.
     This act is intended to make provision for some significant first steps towards a new basic education funding system and establishes a technical work group to address the details and next steps beyond the 2007-2009 biennium that will be necessary to implement a new comprehensive K-12 finance formula or formulas, that will provide Washington schools with stable and adequate funding as the expectations for the K-12 system continue to evolve.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1)(a) The Washington state institute for public policy shall staff a technical advisory committee to review all current basic education funding formulas and develop a new funding structure, and all necessary formulas, that is realigned with the new expectations of the state's education system as established in the November 2006 final report of the Washington learns steering committee and the basic education provisions established in chapter 28A.150 RCW.
     (b) In selecting the members of the technical advisory committee, the Washington state institute for public policy shall, at a minimum, seek recommendations from the Washington state school directors' association, the Washington parent teacher association, the Washington association of school administrators, the Washington school principals association, the Washington education association, the Washington state special education coalition, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the Washington association of career and technical education, public school employees of Washington, the Washington state association of multicultural education, and the Washington business roundtable; however, the Washington state institute for public policy is not required to select any individual submitted by the listed groups.
     (2) The technical advisory committee shall:
     (a) Consist of twelve members, not including the chair. The institute for public policy shall appoint eight of the twelve members and each of those eight members shall have documented significant experience with Washington K-12 finance issues including use and application of the current basic education funding formulas. The remaining four members shall be legislators. The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives;
     (b) Have a chair with business experience who also has experience with Washington finance issues including knowledge of the K-12 funding formulas, who is appointed by the governor;
     (c) In developing its recommendations, review the reports related to K-12 finance produced at the request of or as a result of the Washington learns study, including reports completed for or by the K-12 advisory committee;
     (d) Provide an initial report to the governor and the legislature within sixty days of the effective date of this section establishing an initial plan of action, reporting deadlines, a timeline for fulfilling the requirements of this act, and an initial recommended timeline for a phased-in implementation of a new funding system that does not exceed six years;
     (e) Provide a second report to the governor and the legislature by September 15, 2007, that includes recommendations, including implementing legislation as necessary, for at least two but no more than four options for allocating school employee compensation. One of the options must be outcome-based. The second report shall also include a finalized timeline and plan for addressing the remaining components of a new funding system; and
     (f) Provide a final report with recommendations for at least two but no more than four options for revising the remaining K-12 funding structure, including implementing legislation as necessary, and a timeline for phasing in full adoption of the new funding structure. The final report shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature by January 1, 2008, unless the committee requests additional time from the legislature. One of the options must be outcome-based. The request for additional time may be in the form of a letter to the legislature. A written request for additional time shall be automatically granted with no action required by the legislature if the written request includes a detailed explanation of why additional time is needed, what issues remain to be resolved, and an estimated date that the final report will be made available.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The funding structure alternatives developed by the technical advisory committee under section 2 of this act shall take into consideration the legislative priorities in this subsection, to the maximum extent possible and as appropriate to each formula.
     (1) The funding structure should reflect the most effective instructional strategies and service delivery models and be based on research-proven education programs and activities with demonstrated cost benefits. In reviewing the possible strategies and models to include in the funding structure the committee shall, at a minimum, consider the following issues:
     (a) Professional development for all staff;
     (b) Voluntary all-day kindergarten;
     (c) Optimum class size, including different class sizes based on grade level and ways to reduce class size;
     (d) Performance-based compensation;
     (e) Focused instructional support for students and schools;
     (f) Extended school day and school year options; and
     (g) Health and safety requirements.
     (2) The recommendations should provide maximum transparency of the state's educational funding system in order to better help parents, citizens, and school personnel in Washington understand how their school system is funded.
     (3) The funding structure should be linked to accountability for student outcomes and performance.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.