| On Wednesday
evening, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education held a
work session to review K-12 issues. Committee members heard an update
on Initiative 732 (required educator cost of living adjustments) and
potential impacts on the 2008 Supplemental Operating Budget.
Inflation, and the Seattle Consumer Price Index which drives the I-732
COLA, is projected to be higher than anticipated when the original
2007-09 Operating Budget was adopted so there is an anticipated
maintenance level increase to cover I-732 costs. Additionally,
Superintendent Bergeson and others have proposals to add additional
compensation dollars to the I-732 base to make up for a short-fall due
to a COLA-freeze that occurred in the 2003-05 budget.
The Subcommittee also heard
from a panel of school administrators from the Yakima Valley. They
reviewed their "white paper" on English Language Learners and other
related issues. Many of their ideas are driving budget and WASL
discussions in Olympia.
The Appropriations
Subcommittee closed with a review from OSPI on WASL-related costs. The
state's assessment contract, due to end this year, was thoroughly
reviewed with a discussion of potential options as a new contract is
being negotiated.
Thursday was another busy
day for K-12 education issues. The House Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee held a public hearing on HB 2798. This
afternoon the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development
Committee held a public hearing on the companion bill, SB 6483.
HB 2798/SB 6483 would enact the Local Farms-Healthy Kids and
Communities Act. The bills would also create the Farms-to-School
Program to encourage and facilitate the increased use of Washington
Grown food by public schools. Additionally, the Washington Grown Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Grant Program would be created to encourage and
facilitate the consumption of nutritious Washington grown snacks in
schools to improve student health and to expand the market for locally
grown fresh produce. HB 2798/SB 6483 have sparked controversy in the
education community because of the perceived unfunded mandates and
assumed numerous requirements placed on local school districts. The
bills, however, clearly would implement new discretionary — that is,
non-required — food programs. Language within the bills explicitly
state the programs will be made available to school districts "to
adopt at their discretion." We will continue to watch these bills to
ensure they remain optional, however the intent of the bills'
proponents and sponsors is to provide encouragement to school
districts to implement the programs, rather than to mandate any
program in schools.
Math was a major focus of
work sessions in both the House Education and the Senate Early
Learning and K-12 Education Committees today. Both Committees received
an update on the revision of the mathematics standards and an update
on recommended math curriculum. OSPI has been meeting with focus
groups across the state to get input on the revised mathematics
standards. A group of school directors met with Superintendent
Bergeson a few weeks ago to provide input. If you are interested in
the new mathematics standards, you are encouraged to review the draft
report at
www.utdanacenter.org/wamathrevision/.
The Senate Ways and Means
Committee held a work session on K-12 budget issues. Superintendent
Bergeson reviewed her budget priorities for the session and a panel of
the education associations presented our on-going request for the
Legislature to fully fund basic education. An update was also provided
on the progress of the Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance.
Dan Grimm, chair of the Task Force, reiterated his intent to fully
review all proposals presented to the Task Force and provide solid
recommendations to the Legislature.
Finally, the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Education held a work session and
reviewed the progress of the Student Transportation Funding Workgroup.
The Workgroup has been meeting since last fall and will continue to
meet through at least June 2008. They anticipate providing the
Legislature with two funding formula options to consider in the 2009
session. |
