Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

SB 6555

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Expresses the legislative intent to strengthen the educational system by implementing best practices and evidence-based strategies.
Expresses the legislative intent to build a fair and effective funding system.
Expresses the legislative intent to implement an unbiased and effective method of analyzing the state’s investment in public education.
Directs the Washington State Institute of Public Policy (WSIPP) to conduct an on-going systematic review including a review of high-quality research and the state's investment in the educational system.

Background:

Article IX, section 1 of the Washington Constitution provides that it is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. The courts have interpreted this to mean that the state must define a program of basic education and amply fund it. Legislation enacted in 2009 and 2010 provided for phased-in implementation of changes in both the Basic Education Program and the funding to support it.

The 2013-15 operating budget provided $982 million in enhancements to the program of basic education, as follows:

full-day kindergarten–$89.8 million, increasing the percentage of funded enrollment from 22 percent to 43.75 percent;
student transportation–$131.7 million, fully funding the expected cost model;
materials, supplies, and operating costs–$374.0 million;
early elementary class size reduction–$103.6 million, to reduce K-1 funded class size in high poverty schools;
Learning Assistance Program–$143.1 million;
counselors and parent involvement coordinators–$24.1 million;
Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program (TBIP)–$18.9 million for a new basic education program providing state-funded supplemental instruction following a student's exit from the TBIP; and
instructional hours–$97 million.

The Legislature created the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) in 1983. The WSIPP carries out practical, non-partisan research at the direction of the Legislature or the WSIPP Board of Directors. The WSIPP is housed within The Evergreen State College, which acts as the fiscal and administrative body for the WSIPP.

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature declares its intent to strengthen the educational system by implementing best practices and evidence-based strategies to improve student learning and achieve state-established educational outcomes. The Legislature further intends to build a fair and effective funding system and to implement an unbiased and effective method of analyzing the state's investment in public education.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy must conduct an on-going systematic review and biannually report to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2016, and by December 1 in every even-numbered year thereafter. The review must include a review of high-quality research to identify and update inventories of evidence-based, research-based, and promising early learning, K-12 and higher educational practices and services that lead to better educational outcomes and a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. The WSIPP must also review the state's investments in the educational system, including early learning, K-12, and higher education, with a focus on K-12, to identify the investments that result in the most effective and evidence-based practices. The initial analyses must focus on the funding provided in the 2013-15 operating budget for enhancements to the program of basic education.