On January 27, Senate
Republicans announced the release of their education plan, followed up with a
bill late afternoon the following day. The plan would change the current prototypical
school funding formula to a per pupil funding formula, and would raise funds
through an additional state property tax of $1.80 on $1,000 assessed value. Local
levies would be eliminated in calendar year 2019 and, starting January 1, 2020,
districts could seek a 10% local levy that could not be spent on salaries or
basic education. The so-called “levy swap” results in some areas with higher
assessed property valuations paying more, while those with lower assessed
values pay less.
Other elements of the Senate
Republican plan include a minimum $45,000 salary; a cap on salary expenditures
to 80 percent of a school district’s total budget; extension of the levy cliff
through December 31, 2018; and per pupil enhancements for students in poverty,
special education, who are homeless, and English Language Learners. SB 5607 was
heard Monday the 30th, acted on and passed out of the Senate budget
committee on party lines with a couple of amendments on the 31st,
and passed off the Senate floor February 1st by a vote of 25-24. It
will be heard Monday, February 6 at 3:30 p.m., in House Appropriations.
Democrats also responded with
bills, and HB 1863 also will be heard Monday, February 6 at 3:30 p.m. The Democrats’ proposals mirror concepts
unveiled January 4th at the Joint Education Funding Task Force
Committee meeting. Their plan maintains the prototypical school funding formula
and enhances funding for family engagement and guidance counselors, along with
additional funding for the Learning Assistance Program, ELL students, and
Highly Capable students. It maintains a high local levy, scaling it down by
half a percent each year, over four years, starting in Calendar Year 2018 (from
28 percent to 24 percent); the levy cliff is avoided. The proposal also
maintains levy equalization; the Senate Republican plan eliminates LEA.
The Democrats’ plan includes
a starting teacher salary of $45,500, with increases for the first three years
to $50,500. Salary allocations for other
teachers, those with professional certificates, school administrators and
classified staff also are increased, and professional development time is
phased in over four years. As in the Senate Republican plan, the current salary
allocation box that sets minimums for various years of service and education,
is eliminated. No specific revenue package supports the Democrats’ proposal.
Charts have been released by
Senate Committee Services and the Senate Republicans, and a comparison of plans
has been produced by non-partisan House Committee Services. In addition, OSPI
is working on creating what are commonly called “pivot tables” to compare the
various plans to current funding levels so that school districts, parents, and
others will have a clear comparison of how the different plans fund education to
meet the state’s constitutional obligation.
As a reminder, it isn’t all
education funding plans. Policy committees have until February 17th
to vote bills out of committee. Week 5 starts the countdown to this first
crucial cutoff, with fewer work sessions and more public hearings and executive
action. Bills that fail to see action
are considered “dead,” although elements of these bills or even full bills may
suddenly be found on bills that are moving.
Status of Top Five Legislative Priorities - Update
1.
Social
and Emotional Learning
· HB
1377 – the bill that would improve collaboration for school support services
staff had a public hearing this week.
· HB
1518 – this bill would create social emotional learning for the entire year, a
summer ECEAP program, and a Summer Step-Up program to deal with summer learning
loss in grades K-12. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing Monday,
February 13th at 1:30 p.m., in the House Education Committee.
2.
Amply
Funding Basic Education
· New bills
include: SB 5607 (Senate Republican funding plan), HB 1843 (House Democrat
funding plan), and SB 5623 (Senate Democrat funding plan).
3.
Closing
the Opportunity Gap
· No new
bills introduced
4.
Standards
for Paraeducators
· SB
5607, the Senate Republican education funding plan, was amended January 31st
to include SB 5070, which creates certification and endorsement requirements
for paraeducators.
5.
Breakfast
after the Bell
· SB
5696 would require schools with student eligibility of 70 percent for free and
reduced price meals to offer a type of “breakfast after the bell” program,
starting in the 2018-19 school year. The bill is different from HB 1508, in
that the House Bill includes references to grants for implementation and has a
lunch co-pay reduction program.
2017 WSPTA Supported Issues:
·
Improving
Educational Outcomes for Foster Children
o
No new
bills
·
Engaging
Families in Student Success
o
HB
1843 specifically increases to 1.085 the family engagement coordinator per
prototypical school.
·
Post-Secondary/Higher
Education Access and Affordability
o
HB
1840 and SB 5666 were introduced last week. The companion bills create the
Washington Promise Program, which would offer free college tuition and fees to
the state’s Community and Technical Colleges in one-year and two-year
increments, phased in over the next few years.
·
Removing
Barriers to Implementing ECEAP
o
SB
5733 would create a summer ECEAP pilot program for up to 600 slots, and a
summer Jump Start grant program. It is similar to HB 1518, but does not include
the emphasis on SEL.
·
Restorative
Justice and School Safety
o
No new
bills
Week in Review
WSPTA signed in Pro on several
bills that support our Top 5 priorities and supported positions. In addition,
member Michael Steffen of Marvista Elementary School traveled to Olympia to
testify in support of HB 1508, breakfast after the bell.
The Week Ahead
Monday, February 6
3:30 p.m., House Appropriations, HHR A
Public Hearing:
1. HB 1843 - Fulfilling the
state's paramount duty for all children through equitable and responsible
investments in the state's basic education program and reductions to local
effort contributions.
2. SSB 5607 - Concerning
education.
8 a.m., House Early Learning & Human Services, HHR C
Public Hearing: HB 1777 - Concerning the financing of early learning facilities.
8 a.m., House Higher Education, HHR D
Public Hearing:
1. HB 1512 - Expanding
college bound scholarship eligibility.
HB 1651 - Supporting
students' success by increasing retention and graduation rates with
evidence-based programs.
3:30 p.m., House Capital Budget, HHR B
Public
Hearing: HB 1694 - Providing state funding assistance for public school
construction.
Wednesday, February 8
1:30 p.m., House Higher Education, HHR D
Public
Hearing: HB 1840 - Establishing the Washington promise program.
8 a.m., House Education, HHR A
Executive Session:
1.
HB 1115 - Concerning
paraeducators.
2.
HB 1377 - Improving
students' mental health by enhancing nonacademic professional services.
3.
HB 1508 - Promoting
student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs.
3:30 p.m., House Appropriations, HHR A
Possible Executive Session: HB 1843 - Fulfilling the
state's paramount duty for all children through equitable and responsible
investments in the state's basic education program and reductions to local
effort contributions.
Friday, February
10
10 a.m., House Higher Education, HHR D
Public Hearing: HB 1488 - Expanding higher education opportunities for
certain students.Prepared by
Marie Sullivan
WSPTA Legislative Consultant
Email Marie
