HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1812

As Reported by House Committee On:

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

Title: An act relating to expenditure limitations on the urban school turnaround initiative grant.

Brief Description: Extending the time frame for making expenditures under the urban school turnaround initiative.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Pettigrew, Springer, Haler, Hunt, Fagan, Morrell, Hunter, Hudgins and Santos.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education: 2/14/13, 2/20/13 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Fagan, Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Dahlquist, Haler, Maxwell, Pettigrew, Seaquist, Sullivan and Wilcox.

Staff: Jessica Harrell (786-7349).

Background:

The Urban School Turnaround Initiative (USTI) was created in the 2012 Supplemental Budget to improve learning achievement of students in low-performing urban schools. Under the grant, two schools are selected from the largest urban school district in the state. The selected schools are required to be among the state's lowest-performing schools. Additionally, the selected schools are required to be within the same community, have significant educational achievement gaps, and be a mix of an elementary, middle, or high schools.

The USTI grant is one-time and must be used in the 2012-13 school year for intensive supplemental instruction, services, and materials in the selected schools. Certain specific expenditure categories are permitted. These permitted expenditures include: professional development for school staff; updated curriculum, materials, and technology; extended learning opportunities for students; reductions to class sizes; summer enrichment activities; school-based health clinics; and other research-based initiatives to turn around the performance and close the achievement gap in the selected schools.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is required to monitor the activities in the selected schools. Additionally, the SPI is required to submit a report to the Legislature by December 1, 2013, detailing the outcomes that resulted from the USTI grant and including a comparison of student learning achievement in the selected schools as compared with schools of comparable demographics that were not recipients of the grant.

The two schools selected to receive the USTI grant were Aki Kurose Middle School Academy and Rainier Beach High School. Each school received $1 million to be spent in the 2012-13 school year, for which each has submitted a spending plan for the grant funds.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The requirement that the Urban School Turnaround Initiative (USTI) grant selected schools utilize the funds in the 2012-13 school year is removed. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to enter into an expenditure agreement with the selected schools. The agreement requires that any USTI grant funds remaining unspent on August 31, 2015, be returned to the state.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

An emergency clause was added, authorizing the bill to take effect immediately.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill allows the funds to remain in the school district for the next two years rather than having the money come back to the state and have to be re-appropriated for the next two years.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Haigh, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.