HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1149

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.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Education

Title: An act relating to providing for educational data on students from military families.

Brief Description: Providing for educational data on students from military families.

Sponsors: Representatives Muri, Lytton, Appleton, Klippert, Hawkins, Kilduff, Gregerson, Magendanz and Fey.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 1/26/15, 2/17/15 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires school districts to report data on students from military families.
Tasks the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with conducting an analysis of the average number of students from military families who are special education students, and reporting the analysis to the Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Ortiz-Self, Vice Chair; Reykdal, Vice Chair; Magendanz, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Stambaugh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Fagan, Gregory, Griffey, Hargrove, S. Hunt, Kilduff, Klippert, Lytton, Orwall, Pollet and Springer.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Hayes and McCaslin.

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

Background:

K-12 Data Collection.

The Comprehensive Education Data and Research System (CEDARS) is a longitudinal data warehouse of educational data. Districts report data on courses, teachers, and students to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Course data includes standardized state course codes. Teacher data includes demographics, certifications, and schedules. Student data includes demographics, enrollment information, schedules, grades, and program participation.

The K-12 Data Governance Group (Group) in the OSPI was established by the Legislature to assist in the design and implementation of the K-12 data system for financial, student, and educator data. The Group includes representatives of the Education Data Center, the OSPI, the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the State Board of Education, and school district staff.

Military Presence in Washington.

There are numerous military installations across Washington, including: Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the central Puget Sound area; Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane; Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island; and the Yakima Training Center.

The military population in this state includes active duty personnel, as well as members of the reserves and the Washington National Guard (Guard). "Active duty" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States. Members of the reserves perform part-time duties, but rotate through mobilizations to full-time duty. When not on active duty, reserve soldiers typically train one weekend per month.

The Guard is made up of more than 8,000 citizen soldiers and airmen. At the call of the Governor, the Guard mobilizes and deploys during times of state emergency to augment local jurisdictions and responders in their efforts to protect lives and property. The Guard is also subject to the call of the United States President to serve as part of the total United State military.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

No later than the 2016-17 school year, in addition to other data that must be collected and reported to the OSPI, school districts must also report data on students from military families. The K-12 Data Governance Group (Group) must develop best practice guidelines for the collection and regular updating of this data. Collection and updating of this data must use the United States Department of Education 2007 Race and Ethnicity Reporting Guidelines, including the subracial and subethnic categories within those guidelines.

"Students from military families" means:

Students with a parent or guardian who is a member of the active duty United States Armed Forces.
Students with a parent or guardian who is a member of the reserves of the United States Armed Forces or a member of the Washington National Guard.

Data must be collected and submitted separately for each of the above categories. In addition, the OSPI must conduct an analysis of the average number of students from military families who are special education students, including state, district, and school-level information. This analysis must be reported to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2017.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The collection and updating of the data on students from military families must use the United States Department of Education 2007 Race and Ethnicity Reporting Guidelines, including the subracial and subethnic categories within those guidelines.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill was heard last year, and passed by the House of Representatives by a large majority. It was not heard in the Senate, perhaps because time ran out. Collecting and reporting this data will help inform policy and programs to benefit this population. At this point, this data is not available and it is impossible to determine where the funding needs are greatest. This population of students move frequently, and can be hard to track. Last year's amendment regarding special education students is included in this bill. This population faces many educational challenges but there is no way to track educational progress. So far, 13 states have signed on to this effort. At this point, only the Impact Aid program collects information and it does so only by district, not by school. This bill will allow the tracking of academic progress. This will facilitate data driven decision making. The Department of Defense provided $47 million to over 40 school districts in the state. There is money for the upcoming year, but there is a need to know the number of military children who will benefit. This effort is endorsed by national organizations of school boards and school directors. This is an outstanding bill, and is supported wholeheartedly.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Muri, prime sponsor; Mark San Souci, Department of Defense; and Ted Wicorek, Veterans Legislative Coalition.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.