SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1408
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 of March 20, 2015
Title: An act relating to developing a definition and model for "family engagement coordinator" and other terms used interchangeably with it.
Brief Description: Concerning the development of a definition and model for "family engagement coordinator" and other terms used interchangeably with it.
Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ortiz-Self, Magendanz, Sawyer, Santos, Senn, Robinson, Orwall, Tarleton, Bergquist and Gregerson).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/02/15, 88-9.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/17/15.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
Background: When the Legislature adopted the prototypical school framework for funding basic education in 2009, the framework did not include a parent involvement coordinator as one of the specified staff positions. However in 2010, the Legislature added parent involvement coordinators to the specified staff positions in the framework but did not assign a funding value for the position.
The 2010 Legislature also directed the Quality Education Council (QEC) to make recommendations regarding the adequate level of classified staffing. QEC, with the assistance of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO), convened a group of school district experts in the field of family involvement to assist with the development of the recommendations for parent involvement coordinators. The 2011 QEC recommendations included the working group's recommendation to change the name of the staff position to family involvement coordinator to more accurately reflect the intended role and activities of the position. However, QEC only provisionally adopted the recommendations for setting the funding values for all the reviewed classified staff. The working group recommended funding one family involvement coordinator at each prototypical elementary and middle school and 0.8 for each prototypical high school.
The 2013-15 omnibus appropriations act allocated $11.9 million to support 0.0825 parent involvement coordinators for each prototypical elementary school, but the value in statute was not changed.
In 2006 the Legislature created OEO for the stated purpose of providing information to parents, students, and others on their rights and responsibilities regarding the state's public elementary and secondary education system, and advocating on behalf of elementary and secondary students.
The Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Commission (EOGOAC) was created in 2009 to address the achievement gap in Washington's public schools. The committee is tasked with recommending to the educational agencies specific policies and strategies addressing a number of topics, including supporting and facilitating parent and community involvement and outreach. The 2015 annual report of EOGOAC includes a recommendation that the Legislature review the prototypical schools funding model and determine an appropriate allocation for parent involvement coordinators, and change the staff category title to family and community engagement coordinator.
Summary of Bill: By December 1, 2015, OEO with EOGOAC must recommend to the Legislature the following:
a definition for the term that is referred to as "family engagement coordinator," "parent and family engagement coordinator," and "parent involvement coordinator;" and
a model or framework for such a staff position.
In developing the model or framework, OEO and EOGOAC must collaborate with OSPI, the Washington Education Association, the Public School Employees of Washington, the Washington School Counselors' Association, the Association of Washington School Principals, and the Washington State School Directors' Association.
The section expires July 1, 2016.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill requires the development of a definition for this staff category and a model or framework that is done in collaboration with the state school employee and employer associations. This does not add a funding value for this staff category in the prototypical school funding model. Students and their families have a wide variety of complex needs and services to support them. Sometimes it is the school counselor that reaches out to the families, but the current work load of many school counselors does not provide sufficient time for effective outreach. Having this additional resource to connect with families and students to our schools would be helpful to provide guidance to school districts regarding the role, responsibilities, and expectations of a parent involvement coordinator so that there are no gaps in service or overlaps of work with the school counselors.
OTHER: OSPI is already reviewing this for federal purposes and can provide helpful information to the workgroup established in the bill.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Ortiz-Self, prime sponsor; Nita Hill, WA School Counselor Assn.
OTHER: Gil Mendoza, OSPI.
Persons Signed in to Testify But Not Testifying: No one.