|
Before we discuss today’s event, two corrections are
in order. In yesterday’s Update, we inadvertently stated
that
HB 3025 (Alternative high school diploma routes) was
among the laundry list of bills adopted by the House
Education Committee. It was pulled from the agenda and
was not adopted; it is technically dead for the session.
Its Senate companion,
SB 6778, is scheduled to be heard tomorrow in the
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. We
also had reported that
HB 2893 (levy lids and LEA increase) was amended and
adopted by the House Education Appropriations Committee.
The positive amendment (adding a “reverse severability”
clause to the bill) was introduced; however, the
Committee did not take action on the bill. The bill is
on tomorrow’s Committee list for possible action and it
is expected to be adopted. We apologize for the errors —
more evidence of how quickly things are moving in
Olympia right now.
On Wednesday, the Senate Early Learning & K-12
Education Committee held a public hearing on six bills
of interest: SB 6643, SB 6553, SB 6755, SB 6494, SB 6798
and SB 6800.
-
SB 6643 would allow second-class school
districts to submit a condensed compliance report to
OSPI, rather than submit individual compliance
reports.
-
SB 6553 would delay the implementation of the
math and science high school graduation
requirements.
-
SB 6755 would establish a coordinated school
health public-private partnership to assist schools
with the implementation of required school health
and fitness-related policies.
-
SB 6494 would require the Board of Health to
forward new or amended rules pertaining to primary
and secondary school facilities to the Legislature.
The bill would stipulate that any new or amended
rules must not be implemented until the Legislature
has formally funded implementation of the rules
through the state operating budget or by statute.
-
SB 6798 would implement recommendations of the
Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability
Committee, including the implementation of cultural
competence standards.
-
SB 6800 would give OSPI the authority to
monitor, investigate, and prepare complaints for
victims of discrimination in public schools based on
violations of either state or federal civil rights
laws. Complaints prepared by OSPI would be required
to be submitted to the Human Rights Commission for
enforcement.
The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee
also took executive action on five bills: SB 6696, SB
6760, SB 6761, SB 6629 and SB 6759.
-
SB 6696 would implement various education reform
measures in an effort to enhance Washington’s
eligibility for federal “Race To The Top” funding.
This is the omnibus education reform bill, which
includes the State Board’s accountability plan.
-
SB 6760 would replace the current education
funding formulas with the new prototypical school
funding formulas using the baseline values as
determined by the Funding Formula Technical Working
Group. An amendment which provides another $150
million for fixed costs (Maintenance, Supplies, and
Operating Costs — MSOC, formerly Non-Employee
Related Costs or NERC) was adopted before passage;
however, it is likely this will be stripped off in
the Ways & Means Committee.
-
SB 6761 would implement a series of
recommendations from the Quality Education Council.
Each of the recommendations of the QEC would be
implemented, except for those addressing the details
and enhancements of the baseline values of the
prototypical school funding formula, and the
recommendation addressing the program of early
learning. An amendment to remove the increased
funding for the Pupil Transportation program was
adopted before passage.
-
SB 6629 would convene a working group to make
recommendations defining a basic education program
for highly capable students.
-
SB 6759 would require a plan for a voluntary
program of early learning as a part of basic
education.
|
