HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2517

BYRepresentatives Phillips, Betrozoff, Cole, Holland, Locke, Wang, O'Brien, Peery, Wineberry, Prentice, Walker, Brekke, Miller, Leonard, Rayburn, Valle, Jacobsen, Appelwick, Pruitt, H. Sommers, Rust, Nelson, Anderson, Brough, Horn, P. King, May, Winsley and McLean

Establishing the magnet school program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Cole, Dorn, Holland, Jones, P. King, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle and K. Wilson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Fuhrman and Walker.

House Staff:Robert Butts (786-7841)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Lock, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Rust, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle and Wang.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Wineberry. 

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (786-7143)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 5, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Magnet schools have been used throughout the nation in efforts to reduce school segregation.  Magnet schools offer a special curriculum or education program and are often designed to attract students from different cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  A magnet school grant program is created within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).  Grants shall be awarded to eligible school districts to establish and operate magnet schools that are designed to eliminate segregation and discrimination, to reduce or prevent minority group isolation, and to substantially strengthen knowledge of academic subjects and vocational skills.  The program shall be used to enhance education and not create unequal learning opportunities for a few students.

School districts eligible to receive grants shall include:  (1) districts with court-ordered desegregation plans; or (2) districts that have developed, or are willing to develop, plans that will reduce, eliminate, or prevent minority group isolation in schools with substantial proportions of minority group students; and (3) districts that have minority student populations in excess of 25 percent.

Grants may be used for:  (1) planning and promotion related to current and enhanced programs at magnet schools;  (2) the acquisition of books, materials, and equipment;  and (3) the payment or subsidization of certified and licensed instructional staff.

Eligible school districts may apply to SPI for funds.  When applying, each school district shall agree to use instructional staff who are certified or licensed. The district must also agree not to discriminate when making personnel decisions, when assigning students for purposes other than desegregation, and when designing and operating student extracurricular activities.

In approving applications, SPI shall give priority to:  the number of minority children in the district and the proportion of minority children involved; the need for assistance; the likelihood of success; and the extent in which the program is a collaborative effort of institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, SPI, and other private organizations.

Magnet school funds shall be distributed based on the number of full-time equivalent students in the district.  Districts may receive only one grant unless SPI determines that the district is making satisfactory progress in achieving the objectives of the act.  No more than 10 percent of the grant may be used for planning.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An appropriation of $10 million was deleted, and implementation of the grant program is made subject to an appropriation in the budget.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (SUBSTITUTE BILL):  Magnet schools include only schools that would be racially imbalanced, as defined in State Board of Education rules, if the school district were not implementing a desegregation busing program.

Magnet programs must be open to students of all levels of academic ability and achievement.  Selection cannot be based on grade averages or test scores.

State grants for magnet schools can be used to supplant other funding currently used for these programs only if the school district's federal magnet schools grant is reduced.

Grants may be used for regular salaries of staff only if these are new staff outside of core subject areas.  For other instructional staff assigned to magnet programs, the grants may be used only for staff development and planning days that are in addition to current level plus any subsequent district-wide increases.

A school will not continue to qualify for magnet funding if its minority percentage increases.

The formula for distribution of magnet funding among eligible districts will be based on the number of students to be served in magnet programs, rather than on total district enrollment.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 6, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Education)  Representative Phillips; William Kendrick, Seattle School District; Peter Demyan, Yakima School District; Jerry McCarthy, Tacoma School District; Larry Nyland, Pasco School District; Venus Placer-Barber, Seattle; Ed James, Seattle; Deb Wilson, Seattle; and Marilynne Gardner, Seattle.

(Appropriations)  Representative Larry Phillips; William Kendrick, Superintendent of Seattle School District; Bob Schabot, Washington State Parent-Teacher Association; and John Kvamme, Tacoma School District.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Education)  Magnet schools in Tacoma, Seattle, Yakima, and across the nation are effective, both for school children and in desegregation efforts. However, magnet schools cost money, and local districts with desegregation efforts need financial assistance.

(Appropriations)  Magnet schools will allow urban school districts to provide choice.  This is an alternative to mandatory student assignments for desegregation purposes.

Some school districts have schools that are out of compliance with state guidelines for racial balance.  Magnet schools will help raise student test scores as well as facilitate school integration.  Other states provide support to urban school systems for magnet programs.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.