AN ACT Relating to excellence in education; adding new sections to chapter 28A.03 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

Sections 2 through 8 of this act may be known and cited as the Washington award for excellence in education program act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish an annual award program for excellence in education to recognize teachers, principals, school district superintendents, and school boards for their leadership, contributions, and commitment to education. The program shall recognize annually:

(a) Three teachers from each congressional district of the state. One individual must be an elementary level teacher, one must be a junior high or middle school level teacher, and one must be a secondary level teacher;

(b) Three principals from each congressional district of the state. One individual must be an elementary building principal, one must be a junior high or middle school building principal, and one must be a secondary building principal;

(d) One school district board of directors from the state.

Not more than three teachers and three principals from each congressional district and one superintendent and one school board from the state may be recognized and receive awards in any school year.

(2) The awards for teachers and principals shall include certificates presented by the governor and the superintendent of public instruction at a public ceremony or ceremonies in appropriate locations.

(3) In addition to certificates under subsection (2) of this section, awards for teachers and principals shall include:

(a) A waiver of tuition and fees under section 6 of this act and a stipend not to exceed one thousand dollars to cover costs incurred in taking courses for which the tuition and fees have been waived under this subsection and section 6 of this act. The stipend shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of RCW 28A.58.095; or

(b) Teachers and principals, at their discretion, may elect to forego the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend under subsection (3) of this section and apply for a grant not to exceed one thousand dollars, which grant shall be awarded under the provisions of section 7 of this act. Within one year of receiving the award for excellence in education, teachers and principals shall notify the superintendent of public instruction in writing of their decision to apply for a grant or to receive the waiver of tuition and fees and the stipend under subsection (3) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The award for teachers under the Washington award for excellence in education program shall be named the "Christa McAuliffe Award, in honor and memory of Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe." As the first teacher and private citizen selected nationally to voyage into space, Christa McAuliffe exemplified what is exciting and positive about the teaching profession. Her contributions within the scope of the nation's education system helped to show that education can and should be a vital and dynamic experience for all participants. Christa McAuliffe's chosen profession encompasses learning by discovery and her desire to make new discoveries was reflected by her participation in the nation's space program.

The selection of Christa McAuliffe as the first teacher in space was directly linked to Washington state in that superintendent of public instruction Dr. Frank Brouillet both appointed and served as a member of the national panel which selected Christa McAuliffe.

The tragic loss of the life of Christa McAuliffe on the flight of the space shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986, will be remembered through the legacy she gave to her family, friends, relatives, students, colleagues, the education profession, and the nation: a model example of striving toward excellence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The awards for the superintendent and school board shall include:

(1) Certificates presented by the governor and the superintendent of public instruction at a public ceremony or ceremonies in appropriate locations;

(2) A grant to the superintendent not to exceed one thousand dollars, which grant shall be awarded under the provisions of section 8 of this act; and

(3) A grant to the school board not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars, which grant shall be awarded under section 8 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW to carry out the purposes of this chapter. These rules shall include establishing the selection criteria for the Washington award for excellence in education program. The superintendent of public instruction is encouraged to consult with teachers, principals, superintendents, and school board members in developing the selection criteria. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2(1) (a) and (b) of this act, such rules may allow for the selection of individuals whose teaching or administrative duties, or both, may encompass multiple grade level or building assignments, or both.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:

Teachers and principals who have received an award for excellence in education under section 2 of this act shall have the tuition and fees waived for one full academic year at any state institution of higher education: PROVIDED, That the waiver shall begin to be used within three years after the award was received.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

Teachers and principals who have received an award for excellence in education under section 2 of this act shall be eligible to apply for an educational grant in lieu of receiving a waiver of tuition and fees and a stipend as provided under section 2(3) of this act. The superintendent of public instruction shall award the grant as long as a written grant application is submitted to the superintendent of public instruction within one year after the award was received. The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent and school board who have received an award for excellence in education under section 4 of this act shall be eligible to apply for an educational grant. The superintendent of public instruction shall award the grant as long as a written grant application is submitted to the superintendent of public instruction within one year after the award was received. The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of sixty thousand five hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.