Leap of Faith, 10 Days Left in the 2016 Legislative Session

Last week’s legislative activities flew by, with House Democrats kicking off Monday by releasing their 2016 supplemental operating budget. The pace was quick, with the House Appropriations committee voting the budget out of committee on Tuesday, and off of the House floor Thursday by a vote of 50-47. 

On Wednesday, the House released a bipartisan 2016 supplemental capital budget, and passed the budget out of committee on Friday. The Senate Republicans released supplemental operating and capital budgets also on Wednesday, and followed that up with votes out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Thursday, and off of the Senate floor Friday before 5 p.m. While SSB 6201, the capital budget, passed by a 39-10 margin, SSB 6246, the operating budget passed along majority/minority lines: 25-22 (with 2 excused). 

Friday also marked the last day for bills to be out of the opposite chamber’s policy committees. The list of bills still under consideration has narrowed, although a few bills are still in play even though they have failed to meet the agreed-upon cutoff dates. These include bills about school siting, charter schools, high school assessments, and K-3 classroom construction.

Moving the supplemental operating and capital budgets so quickly allows budget negotiators to start working on the differences between the budgets. Unfortunately, the budgets are philosophically and structurally different, which may spell a little overtime as lawmakers work to resolve spending plans.

Monday, February 29th provides the next hurdle in the legislative process. The 50th day of session is also the last day for most bills with a fiscal impact to be out of budget committees in the House and Senate. The House Appropriations Committee worked Saturday, while the Senate Ways & Means plans to meet Monday at 12:30p.m.  to consider bills such as Breakfast after the Bell and teacher shortage. Noticeably absent is HB 2698, a bill that would extend school district levy authority an additional year, from January 2018 to January 2019.

Here’s a quick look at bills WSPTA has been tracking that are still under consideration:

WSPTA Top Priorities

Fully Fund McCleary

E2SSB 6195 was delivered to the Governor on February 24th. The bill is expected to be signed by the 2nd.

HB 2698 is not scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The bill was oft- mentioned by Senate Democrats as the largest single cut (about $450 million) to K-12 funding in recent sessions. Senate Democratic Deputy Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, cited the impact on schools districts in various legislative districts, and a motion to add the projected $90 million for local effort assistance (LEA) fell short of necessary votes during Friday’s operating budget deliberations.

The “levy cliff” bill may be part of the final negotiations, and is possibly a bargaining chip for the charter schools bill, which had a public hearing but was removed from executive action in the House Education committee. An attempt Thursday to procedurally put SSB 6194 on the bar for a committee vote was defeated 10-10.

Promoting Social and Emotional Learning

The House Appropriations Committee did not take public testimony on 2SSB 6243, a bill aimed at suicide prevention training, as well as boosting social and emotional training for educators, administrators and parents, and conducting an inventory of mental health services provided in schools. The bill was significantly modified in the House Education Committee, but was not funded in the Senate budget. The House fiscal committee can still take up the bill on Monday, but if it isn’t heard it likely will be dead for session.

Increasing Capital Funding

House Democrats and Republicans held a press conference last week to celebrate their bipartisan support for HB 2968. The bill would direct one-half of one percent that is sent to the budget stabilization account (Rainy Day Fund) to support construction of smaller K-3 class sizes and the expansion of all-day kindergarten from this July through 2025. The bill would add $187 million during this budget cycle, and would divert about $200 million a biennium from the Rainy Day Fund to the Education Construction Account. The bill is awaiting a House floor vote.

Another bill has surfaced that would help school districts such as Seattle and Spokane that have buildings that have been replaced by new construction because they cannot be remodeled or renovated. These buildings have been excluded from the state’s inventory of education space and can’t be used for district instructional purposes. SHB 2985 would allow these buildings that are being used to support all-day kindergarten and reduced K-3 class sizes to be excluded from the inventory when determining eligibility for state assistance for new construction. The exclusion would apply for state assistance for new construction awarded from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2021.

Increased Access to Higher Education

Three bills are still in play: SSB 6354 would require four-year institutions of higher education to work with the State Board of Community & Technical Colleges to develop plans that would facilitate the reverse transfer of academic credits from four-year institutions to community & technical colleges. SB 6626 would create a “Degree in Three” work group to develop a set of institutional best practices to promote a student’s ability to successfully graduate with a baccalaureate degree within three years at Washington public regional universities and The Evergreen State College. E2SSB 6601 would create the Washington College Savings Program, which would establish another college savings program option in Washington state.

Breakfast after the Bell

After hearing from advocates and reading a list of those “signed in Pro, not wishing to testify” that took several minutes, the Senate education committee passed E3SHB 1295 onto Senate Ways & Means. The Breakfast after the Bell legislation will be heard Monday at the Senate budget meeting. Contact your senators who serve on Senate Ways & Means and encourage them to pass the bill out of committee and include the House operating budget investment of $2.7 million for implementation.

WSPTA Platform Issues

•  HB 1345 would require the development of a consistent definition for professional learning. Sponsors say this is a step needed before funding professional development days. The bill is in Senate Rules.
• 2SHB 1408 would convene a work group to develop a consistent definition and framework of responsibilities for family engagement coordinators. The bill is in Senate Rules.
• 4SHB 1541 would implement recommendations of the Education Opportunity Gap Oversight & Accountability Committee for closing the achievement and opportunity gaps. Elements include data disaggregation; school discipline; requiring ELL endorsements for teachers in the state-funded Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program; cultural competency; and more. The bill was modified in the policy committee and will be heard Monday in Senate Ways & Means.
•  E3SHB 1682 would focus on improving educational and housing opportunities for homeless youth. The bill is scheduled for public hearing Monday in the Senate budget committee.
•  4SHB 1999 would increase support for students in the foster youth system. The bill has been sent to Ways & Means. It has not been scheduled for public hearing yet.
•  HB 2597 – would expand the plan that school districts must adopt for recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students to include indicators of sexual abuse. The bill is in Senate Rules.
• 2SSB 6408 regarding paraeducator certification and endorsements. The bill was significantly modified in the House Education Committee, and had a public hearing in House Appropriations on Saturday. The bill is scheduled for executive action Monday.

Not on the platform, but worth a look:

•  SB 6245 would require school districts to offer near and far vision screening. The bill passed the House Education Committee and was sent to House Appropriations. It has not been scheduled for further action.
• SSB 6291 would create a work group to evaluate the implementation of using a weighted GPA in high school. WSPTA is seeking an amendment that would add a member of the association to the work group.
• ESB 6620 – would require an evaluation of how Washington and other states have addressed the funding of school safety and security programs, with a report due December 1, 2017. In addition, it would require annual safety summits, and would allow ESDs to implement a regional school safety and security program.
• HB 2639 – would require OSPI to conduct a study to analyze the costs, benefits, detriments, feasibility, and funding options for requiring each school bus purchased after December 2017 to be equipped with seat belts, safety harnesses, or other approved restraint systems for all passengers. A report and recommendations is due by October 15, 2016.
• SHB 2964 – would start a program to phase out lunch co-pays for students participating in reduced price meal programs in prekindergarten through 12th grade, beginning in the 2016-17 school year, using state money for the co-pay. The bill would eliminate co-pays by the 2020-21 school year.

Leaping Forward into March

Following Monday’s budget committee sessions, the action turns to the House and Senate floors, with Friday, March 4 the next deadline for bills from the opposite chamber to pass. Exceptions remain bills that are NTIB or “necessary to implement the budget.”

_______________________________________________________________

Marie Sullivan

Legislative Consultant

Washington State PTA

LegConsultant@wastatepta.org

ICYMI: Seattle Times Op-Ed on Transformational Power of Breakfast

Hey fellow advocate – wanted to make sure you saw this piece from the Seattle Times today titled, “Serving a hungry child breakfast can transform a life.”

The op-ed was written by Rob McKenna (a partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, former two-term Washington attorney general who also serves on the board of United Way of King County) and Jack Irion (superintendent of Yakima School District). It looks at the power school breakfast has to increase academic achievement, building stronger students and a stronger state.

Here’s an excerpt; click here to read the full piece: http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/serving-a-hungry-child-breakfast-can-transform-a-life/

“FROM Pullman to Ellensburg to Vancouver, hunger is a legacy of the Great Recession in our state. It is especially evident in schools where three out of four public-school teachers say that students regularly come to school hungry. Hungry students struggle to concentrate and face greater barriers to educational success. Luckily, this legislative session there is a simple and cost-effective solution proposed — it’s called Breakfast After the Bell.

Breakfast After The Bell legislation is necessary because it is a gap-closer. It works in schools where kids are furthest from educational and other forms of opportunity — where lots of children from low-income families and children of color are learning. …

Breakfast after the Bell would be a game-changer for the 25,000 students who would benefit from this legislation. That is why school leaders, parents, teachers, anti-hunger groups and dozens of others are urging our legislators to pass this legislation. The state House recently passed this important legislation, and we are calling on the Senate to follow its lead.”

Hungry kids in Washington need you. Please call, email and send Tweets to your Senators TODAY and urge them to support House Bill 1295, breakfast after the bell legislation. Together, we can build a stronger, smarter, healthier state!  

Breakfast after the Bell Among Bill Survivors

As the legislature counts down to the March 10th end of a regular session, the schedule for bill deadlines is becoming even more compressed. Last Wednesday, February 17 marked the cutoff for bills to pass out of the chamber in which they started. The next cutoff is Friday, February 26, when bills must have passed the opposite chamber’s policy committee to remain in play.

At cutoff, the Senate abandoned its efforts to change elements of a pre-session agreed-upon bill that would create a legislative work group to resolve compensation issues and reduce state reliance on local levies. Adopting the version (ESHB 2366) that came over from the House, the Senate voted 26-23 to pass E2SSB 6195.

In a surprise move last Thursday, where the bill didn’t get a hearing or follow the regular bill vetting process, E2SSB 6195 passed the House 66-31. The bill is waiting for signatures from the Speaker and President of the Senate before being delivered to the Governor. The Governor will then have five days, not including Sundays, to sign or veto the bill.

A couple of bills that failed to make the February 17th deadline included SHB 2820, the Washington Promise Scholarship, and SHB 2955, creating a free-to-finish college grant.

Here’s a quick look at bills WSPTA has been tracking.

WSPTA Top Priorities

Fully Fund McCleary
In addition to E2SSB 6195, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee will hear the levy cliff bill on Monday, February 22 at 1:30. HB 2698 would extend additional levy authority one more year, through January 1, 2019. This would give school districts another year before they are required to adjust their levy authority down by four percent, with an additional two percent reduction in state-funded local effort assistance. The bill also sets up a Transitional LEA Account for the 2017-19 biennium.

Promoting Social and Emotional Learning
SHB 2381 would direct the Professional Educator Standard Board to convene a 10-member task force on school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. The task force would review: (1) the projected need of school districts for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers; (2) the capacity of the state for meeting this need; (3) alternative certification routes for school counselors and social workers; and (4) school counselor, psychologist, and social worker preparation programs. Recommendations from the task force would be due by December 1, 2016. The bill has not been scheduled for a hearing at this time.

2SSB 6243 would require Educational Service Districts to work with Forefront of the University of Washington to develop a two-day youth suicide prevention training program for middle and high school administrators, teachers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and parents or guardians.

Other elements of the bill include:

• By September 1, 2017, OSPI would create and maintain an online social and emotional training module for educators, administrators, and other school district staff, based on the recommendations of the Social and Emotional Learning Benchmarks Workgroup.
• School districts and ESDs would report one-time data to OSPI on how many students are served by mental health services in each school, school district, or educational service district; how many of these students are participating in Medicaid programs; how the mental health services are funded, including federBal, state, and private sources; information on who provides the mental health services, including district employees and contractors; and any other available information related to student access and outcomes. OSPI would compile this data into an inventory of the mental health service models available to students through schools, school districts, and educational service districts. An inventory report would be due October 31, 2016.

The House Education Committee will take public testimony on the bill Monday at 1:30 p.m.

Increasing Capital Funding
HB 2968 recognizes the pressure that smaller K-3 class sizes and the expansion of all-day kindergarten have had on school districts and sets a goal of making $1 billion in construction and facility grants available over the next 10 years. In an attempt to meet the demand for the K-3/all-day kindergarten grant program created in 2015, the bill would add $187 million during this budget cycle, and would divert one-half of one percent from the budget stabilization account (Rainy Day Fund) to the Education Construction Account through 2025. The bill passed out of the House Capital Budget Committee and is likely to be paired with the 2016 supplemental capital budget for a vote on the House floor.

On Friday, Heidi Bennett represented Washington State PTA on a panel in support of HB 1941/HJR 4210, legislation that would allow bonds to pass by a simple majority when conducted at the November general election. The nearly hour-long hearing included stories from students, school administrators, parents, school advocates, and school board members – all of whom urged the House Education Committee to act on the legislation this session.

Increased Access to Higher Education

As mentioned above, the Washington Promise Scholarship and the Free to Finish grant program did not pass the House in time to remain under consideration. The Senate kept several bills alive, all of which are up for executive action February 24.

These include:

• SSB 6354 would require four-year institutions of higher education to work with the State Board of Community & Technical Colleges to develop plans that would facilitate the reverse transfer of academic credits from four-year institutions to community & technical colleges.
• 2SSB 6601 would establish the Washington College Savings Program to provide an additional financial option for individuals, organizations and families to save for college. 
• SB 6626 would create a “Degree in Three” work group to develop a set of institutional best practices to promote a student’s ability to successfully graduate with a baccalaureate degree within three years at Washington public regional universities and The Evergreen State College.

Breakfast after the Bell
The Senate education committee will take public testimony on E3SHB 1295, on Tuesday, February 23 at 1:30 p.m. The bill would require schools that have 70 percent of students meeting federal eligibility for free or reduced price meals to offer school breakfast after the school day starts, beginning in the 2017-18 school year. The program would not be considered basic education for ongoing purposes. School districts would select which of the types of breakfast after the bell programs it wants to implement. In addition, the bill calls for schools to receive a one-time start-up grant of $6,000 to implement the program.

The bill also includes a couple of amendments that were added on the House floor and that are opposed by the School Nutrition Association. One that appears somewhat problematic for school districts is a requirement to serve breakfast items that can’t be more than 25 percent of their weight in sugar. A typical Clif bar is 31 percent sugar by weight. The association has several amendments it will seek on the bill that return it to pre-floor amendment status.

The Senate bill that incorporated a similar program failed to pass by the February 17th deadline. The House Bill is expected to pass out of the Senate policy committee, but could run into issues in the Senate budget committee or on the Senate floor due to opposition. The United Way of King County is holding a “virtual day of advocacy” on Thursday, February 25th to encourage all supporters to contact their senators and ask them to support HB 1295.

WSPTA Platform Issues

• HB 1345 would require the development of a consistent definition for professional learning. Sponsors say this is a step needed before funding professional development days. The bill was heard February 18 and had no opposition. 
• 2SHB 1408 would convene a work group to develop a consistent definition and framework of responsibilities for family engagement coordinators. Sponsors say securing a common name, definition and framework will make it possible to enhance funding for these positions in schools across the state and at all grade levels in 2017. The bill is scheduled for public hearing on February 23rd in the Senate education committee. 
• 4SHB 1541 would implement recommendations of the Education Opportunity Gap Oversight & Accountability Committee for closing the achievement and opportunity gaps. Elements include data dis-aggregation; school discipline; requiring ELL endorsements for teachers in the state-funded Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program; cultural competency; and more. The bill is scheduled for public hearing on February 23rd in the Senate education committee. 
• 4SHB 1999 would increase support for students in the foster youth system. The bill was heard February 18. 
• SB 6245 would require school districts to offer near and far vision screening. It is scheduled for public hearing in the House Education Committee on Monday, February 22 at 1:30 p.m. 
• 2SSB 6408 would require a certificate/licensure for paraeducators, including training and alternative routes to teacher certification, and a one-year field test for interested school districts. It is also scheduled for public hearing February 22 in House Education.

House Supplemental Budgets to be Released this Week

Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, the House Appropriations Committee Chair, plans to release his 2016 supplemental operating budget on Monday about noon, hold a public hearing at 3:30 p.m., vote the budget out of committee on Tuesday, and vote the budget off the House floor by Thursday. Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, the House Capital Budget Chair, plans to release a bipartisan-crafted 2016 supplemental capital budget on Wednesday, with a possible committee vote on Friday at 1:30 p.m. The House has tentatively scheduled floor action for Saturday.

Friday also marks the last day for policy bills to pass out of committee for opposite chamber bills; Monday is the fiscal cutoff, and March 4 at 5 p.m. is the final day for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber.

For its part, Senate Ways & Means Committee Chair Andy Hill, R-Redmond, may release his version of the 2016 supplemental operating budget this week (rumor has it Wednesday) or he could wait until the following Monday. The Senate capital budget will be released soon afterwards.

Marie Sullivan
WSPTA Legislative Consultant
LegConsultant@wastatepta.org

HDC Town Hall Meeting Schedules: Saturday, February 20

Greetings members of Washington State PTA. 

We would like to make you aware of some legislative town hall meetings coming up this weekend. We very much hope that you will make time to attend, as these events serve as an excellent forum to engage directly in conversations with the policy-makers who represent you at the state level. It's also an outstanding opportunity to hear often candid and details accounts of what your legislators are experiencing in their respective chambers of government. Download the schedule.

As always, we encourage you to be frank and honest in your communications, but also polite and professional. It's imperative that we not lose sight of the human being who is serving a role as an elected official, and to also remember that your Senator and Representatives are individuals who serve with hundreds of others - they cannot enact policy by fiat, only by compromise and negotiation. 

All that to say, we certainly live in frustrating times as parents and educators, and that feeling of frustration is legitimate. But like we teach our children; while it's perfectly fine to feel frustrated, or even angry, those feelings must be tempered in our expression, or else we jeopardize our reputation, our agenda, and our hope of moving forward. 

So please, make time to participate in the town hall for your legislative district. I think you will find it is one of the most participatory forms of direct engagement you can have with the policy makers who represent you in Olympia, and it's a chance to make your voice heard with not only your legislators, but also your community at large. It's a great chance to learn about issues from all corners of your community, and your presence ensures that someone will be standing for every child in the State of Washington. 

Wishing you the very best, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me with questions, concerns, ideas, or feedback. 

Sincerely yours, 

Duncan Taylor 

Legislative Director 

PTAlegdir@wastatepta.org | 317-WAST-PTA (317-927-8782) | WSPTA Advocacy

Advocacy in Action

Kudos and applause to Endeavor Elementary School PTSA leaders Care Maree Harper, President, and Taya Montgomery, Advocacy Chair, who attended Focus Day in Olympia. The two advocates volunteered to testify against SSB 6195, which has been commonly called "a plan for a plan," in front of the Senate Ways & Means Committee. 

"The time to fully fund basic education in our state is right now, not next year, not two years from now," said Montgomery, speaking on the bill's intent to delay action on funding McCleary until 2018.  Harper shared that her PTSA has provided more than $70,000 in grants to the elementary school the past two years for items such as reading programs and technology - things that should be covered by state funding. 

Also addressing committee members was JC Mitchell of the Highline PTA Council. Mitchell reminded legislators about their paramount duty to fund education, and encouraged them to step up now and take action. 

To watch these first-time testifiers, here's the clip on TVW about 37 minutes into the video: http://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2016021077

In addition, Heidi Bennett, a veteran at testifying, supported HB2820 - the Washington Promise Grant - on behalf of the Washington State PTA. While supporting more affordable access to higher educational opportunities through policies like the Washington Promise, Bennett also reminded legislators to support full funding for K-12 basic education. "Neither should be funded at the expense of the other," said Bennett. 

Her testimony before the House Higher Education Committee is here, about 28.5 minutes into the segment. http://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2016021068

Thank you to all of our WSPTA advocates who attended Focus Day on February 3 and shared messages with their legislators at hearings and through individual meetings. 

Mark your calendars now for the 2017 Focus on Education Day, which will be held Monday, January 16, 2017 (Martin Luther King Jr., Day). 

Marie Sullivan

Legislative Consultant

Washington State PTA