SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5657

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.

Background: Current law defines a school day as each day of the school year on which pupils enrolled in the common schools of a school district are engaged in academic and career and technical instruction planned by and under the direction of the school. The length of the school day is not specified.

The Legislature provides funding for teachers and other certificated staff salaries through the state salary allocation schedule, which uses education and years of experience to vary the salary levels. School districts have the authority to establish the actual salaries paid to staff, subject to local collective bargaining and within certain limits set by the Legislature. School districts may exceed the salary limitations only by entering into a supplemental contract with the individual for additional time, additional responsibilities, incentives, or innovations (TRII). There are currently statutory limitations specific to TRII contracts:

School districts must use local levy funds and not state funds to pay the TRII contracts;
TRII contracts must not cause the state to incur any present or future funding obligation;
TRII contracts must be subject to collective bargaining;
A TRII contract must not exceed one year;
If a TRII contract is not renewed, it is not an adverse change in employment; and
TRII contracts must not be used to pay individuals for providing basic education services.

Summary of Bill: A pilot program to extend the school day by one hour beyond the regular school day is created. The purpose of the pilot is to provide homework assistance to students during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction must create a competitive grant process to award the funding for the program. The funding must be used to provide a cadre of teachers who take turns providing homework assistance to students at the end of the regular school day. Teachers providing the instruction must be paid at an hourly rate using a supplemental contract. Funding may also be used for transportation for students participating in the program. The pilot expires in August 2017.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This type of program began in the Pacific Cascade Middle School but it has been expanded to all five of the middle schools in the Issaquah school district. The district uses funding provided by the Issaquah Schools Foundation for this intervention at the middle-school level. It has had a huge positive impact on the district’s graduation rate. It uses the school’s teachers who know the students and the curriculum. Students are in their own school building and have all their materials accessible to them. Most students are initially invited by the principal to participate but many students find that it works for them and continue in the program. Students get out of the seventh period program when their grades go up and they are getting their assignments done on time. There should be some common evaluation of this pilot to see if this works and whether it could be replicated across the state.