Senate Republicans and Democrats Unveil Education Funding Plans

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 30^th, acted on and passed out of the Senate budget committee on party lines with a couple of amendments on the 31^st, and passed off the Senate floor February 1^st 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 4^th 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 17^th 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 13^th 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 31^st 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.

Tuesday, February 7

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.

Thursday, February 9

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

2017 Session Starts with Pomp, Work Sessions and Hearings

The 65^th Washington State Legislature kicked off a 105-day session January 9, swearing in 18 new House and 12 new Senate members, one of the largest freshman classes for both chambers in many election cycles. The Senate is controlled by a Republican majority of 25-24, while the House majority is 50 Democrats to 48 Republicans. The slim majorities in both chambers, with control shared by both parties, likely will keep extreme policies from either side in check.

On January 11, five new separately elected officials were sworn in, including Chris Reykdal as the new Superintendent of Public Instruction. Democrat Jay Inslee was sworn in as Governor, and delivered his inaugural address the same day. Inslee mainly focused on getting the job done on public education funding, but also stressed the importance of addressing the mental health crisis, protecting those using the state’s affordable health exchange, reducing homelessness, and increasing jobs.

Status of Legislative Priorities

·         Social and Emotional Learning – no legislation yet; legislation is planned, including a JumpStart Summer ECEAP pilot program that includes a focus on social and emotional learning.

·         Amply Funding Basic Education

o   The Joint Education Funding Task Force wrapped up seven months of meetings without bipartisan recommendations or a report to the Legislature.

o   On January 4^th, Democrats revealed a proposal, while Republicans shared Legislative Principles.

o   Republicans anticipate a proposal to be available no later than February 1^st.

·         Closing the Opportunity Gap – no legislation yet; Governor’s budget provided additional funding to support closing the Opportunity Gap.

·         Standards for Para-educators – HB 1115 and SB 5070 have been introduced. The Senate Bill is scheduled for a hearing Thursday, January 19^th at 1:30 p.m. WSPTA member Beth Sigall plans to testify in favor.

·         Breakfast after the Bell – no legislation yet; Representative Zack Hudgins is aware of WSPTA interest, desire to be part of the development of the legislation.

Supported Priorities:

·         Improving Educational Outcomes for Foster Children – the Governor’s operating budget included additional funding focused in this area.

·         Engaging Families in Student Success – the Governor’s operating budget included additional funding and a 1.0 FTE per prototypical school for use with school counselors, nurses, family engagement, psychologists, and social workers.

·         Post-Secondary/Higher Education Access and Affordability – the Governor’s operating budget maintained the tuition reductions put in place for the 2015-17 session and backfilled the financial impact of the tuition cuts to the state universities.

·         Removing Barriers to Implementing Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) – the Governor’s operating budget includes funding for an additional 2,700 ECEAP slots. It also includes funding for summer ECEAP. The capital budget proposal includes funding for $26 million for early learning facilities.

·         Restorative Justice and School Safety – no legislation at this time.

Week in Review

While the session after a big election is usually a little slow, this week’s budget and policy committees started with public hearings on Governor Inslee’s proposed two-year spending plans for operations and construction/capital projects. Family and Community Engagement Director, Judy East, and Region Legislative Committee member, Erika Kapur, testified in favor of the Governor’s education budgets, citing areas of alignment with the legislative agenda adopted in October.

The Week Ahead

Next week has several work sessions on education 101, early learning, and recommendations from the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Delivery of Services to Families & Children. Of particular interest may be:

Thursday, January 19

8 a.m., House Education, HHR A

Work Session: Education Governance - Other Public Partners in the K-12 System.

Public Hearing:

1.      HB 1012 - Eliminating the use of the high school science assessment as a graduation prerequisite.

2.      HB 1023 - Concerning military student participation in varsity extracurricular activities.

3.      HB 1046 - Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement.

8 a.m., House Labor & Workplace Standards, HHR E

Public Hearing: HB 1116 - Implementing family and medical leave insurance. – WSPTA sign in Support

1:30 p.m., Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education, SHR 1

Work Session: The State's plan to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Public Hearing:

1.       SB 5064 - Concerning freedom of expression rights of students at public schools and institutions of higher education.

2.      SB 5107 - Creating a local pathway for local governments, school districts, and nonprofit organizations to provide more high quality early learning opportunities by reducing barriers and increasing efficiency.

3.      SB 5115 - Concerning school directors' compensation.

4.      SB 5070 - Concerning para-educators. – WSPTA to testify – Top 5

3:30 p.m., House Appropriations, HHR A

Work Session: Briefing on K-12 public school funding.

3:30 p.m., Senate Ways & Means, SHR 4

Work Session: K-12 Capital Budget Issues.

Prepared by:
Marie Sullivan
WSPTA Legislative Consultant
Email Marie

Legislative Committee Schedule: Week 1

January 9 - 13, 2017

Monday, January 9

9 a.m., Joint Education Funding Task Force, HHR A

Agenda:

1.       Discussion and adoption of Education Funding Task Force recommendations to the Legislature.

2.       Public comment.

1:30 p.m., House Education, HHR A

Work Session: An Overview of Washington's K-12 System.

1.       K-12 System Overview.

2.       Roles and Responsibilities for K-12 Education in Washington -- Part One.

3:30 p.m., House Appropriations, HHR A

Work Session:

1.       Introduction of members.

2.       Committee procedures and expectations.

3.       Presentation of the Governor's 2017-2019 biennial and 2017 supplemental operating budget proposals.

Public Hearing:

1.       Governor's 2017-2019 operating budget proposal.

2.       Governor's 2017 supplemental operating budget proposal.

The public hearing will be continued Thursday, January 12, if necessary.

                                                                                                                                                                      

Tuesday, January 10

1:30 p.m., House Education, HHR A

Work Session: Roles and Responsibilities for K-12 Education in Washington -- Part Two.

3:30 p.m., House Capital Budget, HHR B

Work Session: K-12 School Construction.

                                                                                                                                                                      

Wednesday, January 11

3:30 p.m., House Appropriations, HHR A

Public Hearing: HB 1059 - Delaying implementation of revisions to the school levy lid. (If measure is referred to committee.)

Work Session: Overview of the operating budget process, structure, and other considerations.

3:30 p.m., Senate Ways & Means, SHR 4

Public Hearing: Governor's Proposed Operating Budget.

1.       K-12 Public Schools.

2.       Higher Education.

3.       Early Learning.

4.       Employee Compensation.

5.       Mental Health.

6.       Other Human Services.

7.       Natural Resources.

8.      All Other.

                                                                                                                                                                        

Thursday, January 12

8 a.m., House Education, HHR A

Work Session: A History of Education Reform in Washington.

1:30 p.m., Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education, SHR 1

Work Session:

1.       Introductions.

2.       Committee Operating Procedures.

3.       Historical overview of education funding and governance of Early Learning and K-12 Education in Washington.

4.       2017-19 Operating Budget Overview.

3:30 p.m., House Appropriations, HHR A

Public Hearing: (continuation of Monday, January 9, public hearing if it is needed)

1.       Governor's 2017-2019 operating budget proposal.

2.       Governor's 2017 supplemental operating budget proposal.

Possible Executive Session: HB 1059 - Delaying implementation of revisions to the school levy lid. (If measure is referred to committee.)

3:30 p.m., Senate Ways & Means, SHR 4

Public Hearing: Governor's Proposed Capital Budget.

1.       K-12 Public Schools.

2.       Higher Education.

3.       Mental Health.

4.       Natural Resources.

5.       All Other.

                                                                                                                                                                       

Friday, January 13

8 a.m., House Capital Budget, HHR B

Work Session: Presentation by the Office of Financial Management on Governor Inslee's proposed 2017-19 Capital Budget and 2017 Supplemental Capital Budget.

Public Hearing:

1.       Governor's Proposed 2017-19 Capital Budget and 2017 Supplemental Capital Budget.

2.       Governor's Proposed State General Obligation Bonds.