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Latest Edition of RJH PTSA Advocacy!

Find out more about I-1033, the upcoming LWSD levies and bonds, the Citizens Levy Committee, WA State PTA platform issues, who to contact about the issues.

 

Issue 1   RJH PTSA Advocasy Issue 1.pdf

 


 

by Dan Steele, WSSDA Director of Governmental Relations

For,The Week Ending February 26, 2010

 

http://wssda.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=587044

Senate & House release budget proposals

Each biennium, the House and Senate alternate as the body to introduce the first legislative budget. This biennium, it is the Senate’s turn to begin the process. In a strange break from tradition, however, budget-writers in both houses released their proposals on the same day, Feb. 23. Both budgets solve the state’s $2.8 billion budget problem with program reductions, use of federal funds, budget transfers and new revenue. Each budget is very different. The level and target for cuts are different; assumed federal relief is different; the amount of transfers (and the size of the ending fund balance) is different; and the estimated new revenue (and sources of that revenue) is different.

Both the Senate and House proposals make budget reductions in all areas of state government, including K-12 education. The Senate budget would cut $838 million from the current biennial budget, including a $214 million reduction to K-12. The House budget includes $653 million in program reductions or eliminations, with a $112 million cut to K-12. The House budget also includes some key funding enhancements in education.

In this issue of Impact, we attempt to explain the major K-12 education provisions in the Senate and House proposed budgets.

Local Effort Assistance

Both budgets protect funding for LEA. The Senate assumes the implementation of SB 6502 (levy bases) and SB 6601 (nonresident online students), resulting a net increase of $1.5 million in LEA funding. The House assumes the implementation of HB 2893 (levy lids/LEA) and HB 2670 (levy bases), resulting in a $25.3 million increase in LEA funding. Additionally, the House includes another $7.2 million to fund the "per pupil inflator" at four percent, rather than the current one percent. This will increase LEA funding for some districts and will allow some districts to collect additional local funds previously approved by voters.

Basic education/education reform

The House and Senate proposals provide funding to implement legislation replacing current K-12 funding formulas with the new prototypical school funding formulas. The House includes $2.8 million to implement HB 2776; the Senate includes $1.7 million to implement SB 6760. Additionally, the Senate includes another $3.6 million to implement the Race to the Top legislation, SB 6696, which would make changes to teacher and principal evaluations; change teacher tenure provisions; make changes to educator certification; and implement a new statewide education accountability system.

Initiative 728

The final 2009-11 budget reduced the per student allocations required by Initiative 728 from $458 per student to $131 per student in the 2009-10 school year and $99 per student in the 2010-11 school year. Both supplemental budget proposals eliminate the second-year funding of $99 per student, saving $78.5 million statewide.

Staffing ratios

State law requires certain levels of staffing per FTE student. Currently, the law requires: 49 certificated instructional staff (CIS) to 1,000 annual average FTE students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; 46 CIS to 1,000 annual average FTE students in grades four through twelve; four certificated administrative staff to 1,000 annual average FTE students in grades kindergarten through twelve; and 16.67 classified personnel to 1,000 average FTE students (or 60 students per one classified staff) enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve. The 2009-11 budget provides enhancements over these levels to reduce class sizes, funding 53.17 CIS per 1,000 average annual FTE students in grades kindergarten through four. Additionally, the classified staff ratio is enhanced to 58.75 students per classified staff.

The Senate budget decreases these enhancements from the current ratios of 53.17 staff per 1,000 student FTEs to 49.5 staff per 1,000 student FTEs in grades kindergarten through three and returns to the statutorily-required level of 46 staff per 1,000 student FTEs in grade 4, saving $102.9 million. The Senate budget also eliminates the classified staffing ratio enhancement, saving another $15.3 million.

The House budget includes an $11.1 million savings by reducing the state allocation for certificated instructional staff in grades K-4 to approximately 52.7 staff per 1,000 students from the current ratio of 53.17 staff per 1,000 students. The House makes no changes to the current classified staffing ratio enhancement.

Learning Improvement Day

Both budget plans discontinue the final state-funded Learning Improvement Day for certificated instructional staff in the 2010-11 school year. The House budget assumes a savings of $15.7 million; while the Senate assumes a savings of $15.3 million.

Alternative Learning Experience

The House budget saves $22.7 million by eliminating funding, beginning in the 2010-11 school year, for Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs for students in grades K-6. ALE programs include online and digital learning delivered over the internet, parent partnership programs (primarily instructional programs taking place in the home, with district responsibility for overseeing instruction), and contract-based learning programs. Students participating in ALE in grades 7-12 will continue to receive a full basic education funding allocation.

The Senate budget does not include this funding change.

BEST program

Both the House and Senate proposals discontinue funding ($2.3 million) for the Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) program beginning Fiscal Year 2011. The program provides early career educators with mentorship and support.

Alternate routes to certification

The Professional Educator Standards Board manages the Alternative Routes to Certification program which provides assistance to individuals pursuing teacher certification through performance-based, non-traditional programs. These programs are aimed at recruiting candidates to teach in statewide subject matter and geographic shortage areas. Funding for the program is reduced by approximately 50 percent in both the House ($2.1 million savings) and the Senate ($1.7 million savings) budgets in Fiscal Year 2011.

National Board

The House makes a number of reductions to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards bonus programs, saving approximately $5.7 million. The base bonus is set at the pre-inflation adjusted rate of $5,000/teacher (the 2009-11 budget assumes $5,090/teacher). Additionally, the challenging school bonus, an amount beyond the base bonus for National Board certified teachers employed in high-poverty schools, is reduced from $5,000 to $2,500 beginning in the 2010-11 school year. Also, state funding for scholarships to help defray the up-front costs of pursuing certification from the National Board is discontinued in Fiscal Year 2011. Finally, the 2009-11 budget permits National Board certified teachers who become principals to keep their bonus as principals; this provision is discontinued beginning in the 2010-11 school year.

The Senate proposal includes no funding changes to the National Board bonus programs.

Career and technical education

The Senate budget eliminates funding ($2.5 million), beginning in Fiscal Year 2011, for grants to middle schools, high schools or skill centers, to develop or upgrade high-demand career and technical education programs. The House maintains this funding.

The House budget discontinues funding ($1.8 million) for middle school career and technical education beginning in Fiscal Year 2011. This funding provided a funding enhancement to middle school vocational education students equivalent to that provided to high school vocational students. The Senate budget does not make this change.

Science education

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2011, the Senate budget would eliminate funding ($1.6 million) for the Washington State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) program. These programs provide strategic planning, professional development, and advocacy, as well as assisting school districts with implementing science programs aligned with state assessments.

The House would maintain this funding.

Navigation 101

In the House budget proposal, funding for Navigation 101 implementation grants would be discontinued beginning in Fiscal Year 2011. Navigation 101 is a guidance and career counseling program providing college and career readiness services and curriculum for students.

The Senate would maintain this funding.

Focused Assistance

Under the House plan, funding ($3.0 million) for Focused Assistance programs within OSPI would be discontinued beginning in Fiscal Year 2011, saving $3.2 million. It is assumed that programs will continue with support from increasing federal revenues for school improvement programs.

The Senate does not include this change.

House capital budget unveiled

At press time, only the House version of a Capital Construction Budget had been released. The House plan includes a $31 million reduction in the current bond appropriation and an increase of almost $300 million in other appropriations. The following are the major K-12 education provisions in the House Capital Budget:

  • The allocation to OSPI for the School Construction Assistance Grant Program would be reduced by $110 million. This reflects revised assumptions regarding eligible K-12 public schools expected to request construction reimbursement for the remainder of the biennium. This reduction is not expected to impact any current school district projects.
  • There is a $200 million appropriation for a new Jobs Act for K-12 Public Schools. This funding would be provided to create jobs through energy efficiency improvements in K-12 public schools. School districts could apply to OSPI for grants for energy efficiency projects that lead to energy and operational cost savings.
  • $5 million is provided for Distressed Communities School Grants. OSPI is directed to develop a competitive grant program for school districts demonstrating the most need to renovate or replace major building systems. Grants may not exceed $500,000. A school district must show a school facility need that directly affects the health and safety of students. School districts will receive priority based on, but not limited to, the following criteria: (1) The financial resources of the school district; (2) the inability to pass a capital bond measure; and (3) the condition of current facilities and the district's ability to maintain them.

  • For additional legislative resources, visit the Legislative Information Section of the WSSDA Web site.

    You are currently subscribed to the WSSDA News1 Listserv (wssda-news1@listserv.wa.gov).  You may leave this list at any time by sending an e-mail to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.WA.GOV with the words SIGNOFF WSSDA-NEWS1 in the BODY of the message.  You may also unsubscribe by contacting WSSDA's Sue Brand (S.Brand@wssda.org, 360.252.3016) or David Brine (D.Brine@wssda.org, 360.252.3013)

    WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS' ASSOCIATION

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Daily Legislative Update

    by Dan Steele, WSSDA Director of Governmental Relations

    For Tuesday, February 23, 2010

     

    After several days of clear and sunny skies, the rain returned Tuesday. Unfortunately, even though you could retreat indoors to avoid the rain, the clouds and a feeling of doom and gloom hovered within legislative buildings as both Senate and House budget-writers released their 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget proposals today. Links to each budget proposal, along with a summary and the agency detail, are available from the Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program Committee, under 2010 Supplemental Budgets. Brief details of each proposal follow below and we will provide more comprehensive information of the two plans in the next issue of our Impact newsletter.

    The Senate plan solves the state’s $2.8 billion budget problem in four parts: budget reductions in all areas of state government total $838 million; $583 million in approved or “anticipated” federal relief (including $483 million in federal Medicaid payments); $498 million in various budget transfers; and $918 million in new revenue. The new revenue would come from an elimination of several tax loopholes or tax exemptions ($518 million); a one dollar per pack increase in the cigarette tax ($86 million); and a temporary 0.3 percent increase in the state sales tax ($313 million). The sales tax “surcharge” would be imposed from June 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013. The estimated $313 in additional 2009-11 revenue is intended to maintain funding for Local Effort Assistance, state-funded all-day kindergarten and state higher education need grants.

    The Senate’s budget would reduce the K-12 education portion of the “maintenance level” budget by $214 million (maintenance level is the current budget, plus mandatory “maintenance” increases, such as increases in student enrollment and special education costs). By way of comparison, Gov. Gregoire’s Book I budget included a $406 million reduction to K-12, and her Book II budget called for $197 million in reductions. The major reductions include:

    • The remaining $99 per student allocation to support purposes of Initiative 728 is eliminated, saving $79 million.
    • Funding for the Class Size Enhancement in Grade 4 is eliminated (saving $37.2 million) and the K-3 Staff Ratio is reduced (saving $65.7 million). Currently, the law requires 49 certificated instructional staff (CIS) to 1,000 annual average FTE students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; the enacted budget provides enhancements over these levels to reduce class size, funding 53.17 CIS per 1,000 average annual FTE students in grades kindergarten through four. These enhancements are decreased from the current ratios of 53.17 staff per 1,000 student FTEs to 49.5 staff per 1,000 student FTEs in grades K-3.
    • Classified staff ratio enhancements are eliminated, saving $15.3 million.
    • The final state-funded Learning Improvement Day is eliminated, saving $15.3 million.
    • Numerous smaller statewide programs and grants are reduced or eliminated, decreasing costs by $10.5 million.

    The House plan solves the state’s $2.8 billion budget problem in four parts: budget reductions in all areas of state government total $653 million (including $45 million in reductions already adopted with the passage of HB 2921); $641 million in anticipated federal funding; $547 million in various budget transfers, including $311 from reserves (leaving $428 million in the state’s General Fund ending balance; and $857 million in new revenue. The new revenue would come from…an unknown source. House budget-writers intend on releasing their revenue plan tomorrow. Several plans are on the table, including the mix of “discretionary” use taxes from the governor, the Senate’s 0.3 percent sales tax increase, and several ideas already introduced in the House. Those House plans include a temporary one cent increase in the sales tax, an increase in the estate tax for “high wage” earners, and an elimination of tax loopholes or tax exemptions.

    The House’s budget would reduce the K-12 education portion of the “maintenance level” budget by $112 million — while it also provides some important increased funding. $7.2 million is provided to increase the “per pupil inflator” from one percent to four percent. This increases Local Effort Assistance funds for school districts and will allow some districts to collect additional local funds previously approved by voters. Another $25.3 million is provided to increase Local Effort Assistance by two percent, as provided for in HB 2893.

    The major K-12 reductions included in the House budget include:

    • The remaining $99 per student allocation to support purposes of Initiative 728 is eliminated, saving $79 million.
    • Beginning in the 2010-11 school year, alternative learning experience (ALE) programs such as online and digital learning delivered over the internet, parent partnership programs (primarily instructional programs taking place in the home, with district responsibility for overseeing instruction), and contract-based learning programs will no longer be available to students in grades K-6, saving $22.7 million.
    • The final state-funded Learning Improvement Day is eliminated, saving $15.7 million.
    • Funding for K-4 staffing levels is reduced, saving $11.1 million. The state allocation for teachers and other certificated instructional staff in grades K-4 is reduced to approximately 52.7 staff per 1,000 students, from the current allocation rate of 53.2 staff per 1,000 students.
    • A number of reductions are made to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards bonus program, totaling approximately $5.7 million.
    • Numerous smaller statewide programs and grants are reduced or eliminated, decreasing costs by $10.8 million.
    • Funding for the Focused Assistance program is eliminated, saving $3 million.
    • Funding for Navigation 101 implementation grants is discontinued beginning in FY 2011, saving $3.2 million.
    • Funding for the Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) program is discontinued beginning FY 2011, saving $2.3 million.
    • Funding for the Alternative Routes to Certification program is reduced by $2.1 million in FY 2011.
    • Funding for middle school career and technical education is discontinued beginning in FY 2011, saving $1.8 million.

    Both the Senate and House budgets were heard in their respective legislative committees this afternoon and evening. Both budget plans are expected to move fairly quickly; both are already scheduled to be moved out of their committees tomorrow. Whether both houses will adopt their own plan is to be determined. Normally, one house will pass their budget to the other house, where it will be amended and sent back to the first house, then behind-the-scenes negotiations on a final compromise budget will begin. Because both houses introduced their respective plans on the same day, it is unclear what process these budgets will follow. Of course, we will continue to keep you apprised.

    In other budget news, the Senate did not release its 2010 Supplemental Capital Construction Budget proposal today. Senate leaders indicated that it will be released “in a couple of days.”  The House, however, did release its Capital plan today. We will provide details of that proposal in tomorrow’s Update.

    Finally, legislative committees continue to meet even as the blizzard of budget activity begins. We will provide more details of those events tomorrow; however, we did want to make quick note of two issues. The House Education Committee adopted SB 6696, the education reform bill intended to enhance Washington’s application for federal “Race To The Top” funds. SB 6696 makes changes to teacher/principal evaluations; changes teacher tenure provisions; expands options for educator certification; and implements the State Board’s statewide education accountability system. SB 6696 now moves to the House Ways & Means Committee for action.

    The House Education Committee also adopted an amended version of SB 6604. SB 6604 is the education “flexibility” bill which would repeal, suspend or amend a series of K-12 unfunded mandates. The bill includes language that would have negatively impacted WSSDA’s membership structure. Today, before adopting the bill, the Committee adopted a striking amendment that stripped this language from the bill — along with all other provisions in the bill, except the repeal of Student Learning Plans. The bill now moves to the House Rules Committee, awaiting action by the full House.

     

    WSSDA Legislative Report Index

    WSSDA legislative reports are prepared by WSSDA's Governmental Relations staff team: Dan Steele (360.252.3010) and Sheila Chard (360.252.3011). We welcome your questions and comments. We also encourage school directors to keep in touch with their legislators on a regular basis. If you need contact information, visit the Legislature's District Lookup Tool. WSSDA also provides a number of links to key House and Senate committees.

    You are currently subscribed to the WSSDA News1 Listserv (wssda-news1@listserv.wa.gov).  You may leave this list at any time by sending an e-mail to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.WA.GOV with the words SIGNOFF WSSDA-NEWS1 in the BODY of the message.  You may also unsubscribe by contacting WSSDA's Sue Brand (S.Brand@wssda.org, 360.252.3016) or David Brine (D.Brine@wssda.org, 360.252.3013)