Calendar of Committee Meetings for Week 3 of the Legislative Session

The following information would usually be provided via WSSDA Legislative Updates.

Due to inclement weather in Olympia, access to post the updates is limited.

January 23 – 27, 2012

Legislative Committee Schedule

Schedule subject to change; check www.leg.wa.gov for the most current information

Monday, January 23

8 a.m., Senate Agriculture Water & Rural Economic Development, SHR 3

Public Hearing:

1. SB 6183 - Regarding bid requirements for schools purchasing Washington grown foods and other goods.
2. SB 6221 - Concerning state capital funding of health and safety improvements at agricultural fairs.
3. SB 6208 - Regarding license fees under the warehouse act.

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

Public Hearing:

1.       SGA 9175 - Elaine R Akagi, Member, State School for the Blind Board of Trustees.

2.       SB 6246 - Strengthening categorical school programs based on the recommendations of the quality education council.

3.       SB 6177 - Regarding certificated employee evaluations.

4.       SB 6203 - Implementing revised teacher and principal evaluation systems.

5.       SB 6278 - Regarding provisional school employees' contracts.

6.       SB 6317 - Establishing a statewide plan for implementing revised teacher and principal evaluation systems to support continuous professional growth based on the development work of pilot school districts.

7.       SB 6318 - Facilitating statewide implementation of revised teacher and principal evaluation systems through professional development and training.

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

Public Hearing:

1. Recommendations of the Commission on State Debt:
1. SB 6262 - Implementing the recommendations of the commission on state debt.
2. SJR 8221 - Amending the Constitution to include the recommendations of the commission on state debt.
2. Governor's 2012 Supplemental Capital Budget.
3. SB 6002 - Making adjustments to the school construction assistance formula.
4. SB 5984 - Concerning local government financial soundness.

6 p.m., House Education, HHR A

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2586 - Phasing-in statewide implementation of the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills.
2. HB 2506 - Strengthening categorical school programs based on the recommendations of the quality education council.
3. HB 2470 - Providing for educational opportunities for low-income, at-risk, and diverse students based on the recommendations of the quality education council.
4. HB 2447 - Defining a high school credit for graduation purposes based on the recommendations of the quality education council.
5. HB 2164 - Encouraging school districts to loop groups of students and teachers in successive grade levels.
6. HB 2268 - Establishing financial literacy as a high school graduation requirement.

Executive Session: HB 1753 - Clarifying the authority of a nurse working in a school setting.

Tuesday, January 24

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

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2494 - Implementing the recommendations of the commission on state debt.
2. HJR 4226 - Amending the Constitution to include the recommendations of the commission on state debt.

8 a.m., House Education Appropriations & Oversight, HHR A

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2336 - Requiring a model policy for open licensing of courseware developed with state funds.
2. HB 2485 - Authorizing school districts to use electronic formats for warrants.
3. HB 2492 - Requiring the state board of education to provide fiscal impact statements before making rule changes.

10 a.m., Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development, SHR 3

Public Hearing:

1. SB 6232 - Creating the office of the student achievement council.
2. SB 6269 - Regarding higher education coordination.
3. Relating to program fees at institutions of higher education [S-3822.3].
4. Relating to creating efficiencies for institutions of higher education [S-4003.1].

The draft bills are posted on the Committee’s website at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/HEWD/Pages/default.aspx and are available from committee staff. Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2209 - Addressing issues of accountability and funding for alternative learning experience programs.
2. HB 2231 - Reducing costs by reducing state assessment requirements.
3. HB 2411 - Regarding high school graduation requirements.
4. HB 2543 - Regarding state board of education rules that contain unfunded mandates.

1:30 p.m., Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections, SHR 2

Public Hearing:

1. SSB 5049 - Implementing recommendations of the sunshine committee.
2. SB 6109 - Exempting video and audio recordings of closed executive session meetings from public inspection and copying.

1:30 p.m., Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection, SHR 4

Public Hearing: SB 6229 - Establishing minimum standards for sick and safe leave from employment.

6 p.m., House Education, HHR A

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2165 - Facilitating statewide implementation of revised teacher and principal evaluation systems through professional development and training.
2. HB 2334 - Establishing a statewide plan for implementing revised teacher and principal evaluation systems to support continuous professional growth based on the development work of pilot school districts.
3. HB 2309 - Regarding provisional school employees' contracts.
4. HB 2427 - Implementing revised teacher and principal evaluation systems.

Wednesday, January 25

8 a.m., Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education, SHR 1

Public Hearing:

1. SGA 9197 - John Glenn, Member, State School for the Blind Board of Trustees.
2. SB 6348 - Creating the laboratory school partnership program.
3. SSB 5191 - Providing flexibility in the education system.
4. SB 6323 - Reducing certain requirements affecting school districts.
5. SB 6099 - Regarding school district levy elections.
6. SB 6247 - Changing the duties of the quality education council and the state board of education.

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

Public Hearing: various revenue bills

Thursday, January 26

8 a.m., House Early Learning & Human Services, HHR D

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2569 - Implementing a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for child care centers and early learning programs.
2. HB 2608 - Requiring the department of early learning to develop state early learning guidelines.

8 a.m., House Education, HHR A

Public Hearing:

1. HB 2215 - Concerning waivers from school year requirements for purposes of economy and efficiency.
2. HB 2479 - Expanding waivers from the one hundred eighty-day school year requirement.
3. HB 2333 - Reducing state requirements on local school districts.
4. HB 2538 - Reducing certain requirements affecting school districts.
5. HB 2199 - Changing compulsory school attendance requirements for children six and seven years of age.
6. HB 2493 - Making the membership of the state board of education more representative of public education.

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

Public Hearing:

1. SSB 5142 - Regarding alternative learning programs.
2. SB 6231 - Regarding open educational resources in K-12 education.

1:30 p.m., Senate Health & Long-Term Care, SHR 4

Public Hearing:

1. Consolidating purchasing system for public school employees [S-3668.2].
2. SB 6236 - Authorizing the presentation of claims for payment for pathology services to direct patient-provider primary care practices.

Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.

The draft bill is posted on the Committee’s website at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/HEA/Pages/default.aspx and available from committee staff. Other business.

Friday, January 27

8 a.m., House Labor & Workforce Development, HHR C

Public Hearing:

4. HB 2508 - Establishing minimum standards for sick and safe leave from employment.

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

Possible Executive Session:

1. HB 2165 - Facilitating statewide implementation of revised teacher and principal evaluation systems through professional development and training.
2. HB 2334 - Establishing a statewide plan for implementing revised teacher and principal evaluation systems to support continuous professional growth based on the development work of pilot school districts.
3. HB 2209 - Addressing issues of accountability and funding for alternative learning experience programs.
4. HB 2586 - Phasing-in statewide implementation of the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills.
5. HB 2506 - Strengthening categorical school programs based on the recommendations of the quality education council.
6. HB 2470 - Providing for educational opportunities for low-income, at-risk, and diverse students based on the recommendations of the quality education council.
7. HB 2447 - Defining a high school credit for graduation purposes based on the recommendations of the quality education council.

Location of committee meetings are denoted as HHR or SHR.

HHR is the John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room

SHR is the J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room

Thursday House 8 a.m. committee hearings cancelled

All of the House committees scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. have been cancelled.

So, if you were planning to come for the public hearing before the House Education committee on the various bills making changes to teacher/principal evaluations and implementation of the TPEP programs, please be aware that the meeting will be rescheduled.

House meetings are still scheduled for the rest of the day, including the 6 p.m. meeting of the House Education, Higher Education, and Labor & Workforce Development committees. That is the joint committee meeting that will hear from Dr. Bill Symonds, on "Pathways to Prosperity." The meeting also includes a public hearing on HB 2170, titled the Career Pathways Act.

First Reading will provide updates on schedule changes due to the weather conditions as we hear of them. It's also a good idea to check the legislative web site for the latest committee meeting agendas.

Senate committee hears charter school bill

Braving the winter wonderland conditions that have dumped what seems like a foot of snow on Olympia, WSSDA President Mary Fertakis (Tukwila School District) testified today in opposition to SB 6202 as written.  

SB 6202 authorizes charter schools operated independently of locally elected school boards through a complex system of authorities and applicants. The bill also sets up state-takeover of the lowest persistently performing schools (no less than 10 and no more than 20 a year).

Fertakis shared with the committee that WSSDA has long supported alternative and non-traditional schools operated under the jurisdiction of locally elected school boards.

In her testimony, Fertakis pointed out the association’s concerns that the bill may fall short of its stated objective to serve students who struggle to achieve due to poverty, racial and ethnic diversity, and special needs. She referenced Section 105 of the bill, which allows charter schools to be set up for educationally disadvantaged students, but noted that the bill also allows charter schools to be set up around a special emphasis, theme, or concept that do not have to serve educationally disadvantaged students, which is the stated purpose of the bill.

The bill caps the number of charter schools to 10 a year, with a majority “reserved” for schools serving educationally disadvantaged students. However, as Fertakis noted, the bill (Section 115) is clear that if the reserve is not met, the State Board of Education must allow implementation of other charters, regardless of whether they serve educationally disadvantaged students.

Her suggestion? If the Legislature continues to pursue the bill, then all 10 of the charter schools should be focused solely on our most struggling students.

Fertakis told the committee the bill goes too far, too fast. She said if it was the Legislature’s intent to pass a bill authorizing charter schools in Washington, then a decision of that magnitude should be sent to the people for a vote. This is particularly important when charter schools will be using public monies without locally elected oversight.

“Let the people decide if this is the right time and the right tool to best serve our students,” Fertakis concluded.  

Shawn Lewis, Chief Financial Officer at OSPI, speaking on behalf of Superintendent Randy Dorn, thanked the bill sponsors for a bill that would encourage innovation and address issues with our persistently low-achieving schools. “We want to encourage more of these types of innovations,” he said.

However, Lewis said that Dorn did not support the bill, and believed it should go to vote of the people. If voters approve the concept, then Lewis said OSPI should be the entity overseeing all public schools in the state, including charter schools.

OSPI has placed a fiscal impact of about $33 million a biennium to implement the bill, starting in the 2013-15 biennium. For the current biennium, the fiscal note lists about $1.2 million to get started. The preliminary fiscal note is here.

Others speaking against the bill included Wendy Rader-Konofalski of the Washington Education Association and Jerry Bender with the Association of Washington School Principals.  

Regarding questions about collective bargaining, Rader-Konofalski pointed out that the bill is silent on collective bargaining although it is one of the laws that could be waived. In the transformation zones, certificated and classified staff can be in a bargaining unit if the management company agrees, but it must be separate from other bargaining units in the school district.

Speaking on the pro side were: lobbyist Amy Bell, representing the Washington Roundtable; Macy Olivas, a student at Whitworth College who attended a charter school in California; Chris Eide, a member of Teachers United; a parent; and a teacher from Clover Park School District. Frank Ordway of the League of Education Voters also was in support, but yielded his time to the panel.  

The House version of the charter schools bill, HB 2428, is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Education Committee Friday, January 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Senate committee staff provides analysis of charter school bill

Susan Mielke, staff to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, has prepared a comprehensive side-by-side analysis of SB 6202 regarding charter schools and the transformation zone districts. Click here for the handout.

Senate hearing on charter bill to start soon

For those of you who are snowbound but wanted to attend today's Senate Early Learning  and K-12 Committee public hearing on SB 6202, a bill that would authorize up to 10 charter schools a year under various entities, the hearing is wrapping up the section on "innovation schools." TVW has a live link for you to watch and listen.

WSSDA's president Mary Fertakis, a school director at the Tukwila School District, will be speaking on behalf of the association.

Legislative session off to a fast and crazy start

When the Legislature convenes for the short, 60-day session, it’s usually to make some tweaks to the biennial budgets passed during the previous session, along with some policy work.

Consider that in the first week of regular session, rather than focusing on the projected $1 billion operating budget shortfall, legislators have managed to introduce nearly 500 new bills since Monday. That’s right, 500. Of those, about 15 percent are on the WSSDA watch list.

Education is a hot commodity this session, and you can expect lots of action in committee meetings before the first deadline to move policy bills – tentatively January 31 in the House and February 3 in the Senate.

See the WSSDA Legislative web page Friday, January 13 for the rest of the story.

Legislators return to Olympia for 60-day session

State legislators return to Olympia for the start of a 60-day regular session Monday, Jan. 9. The action kicks off at noon, with committee meetings starting at 1:30 p.m., and the House Ways & Means Committee meeting at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the remaining budget problems not addressed in the special session.

Check the WSSDA website Monday, Januay 9, for an overview of the 2012 challenges, people, bills, and the first week of action. And if you haven't signed up for the WSSDA Legislative Updates, please add yourself to the list.

McCleary Decided: State Not Fully Funding Education

Today, the Washington State Supreme Court released its decision on whether the state was meeting its Constitutional obligation to amply fund public education.

In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court indicated that if the State fully funded ESHB 2261 (Chapter 548, Laws of 2009), the bill that redefined basic education and included new funding formulas, the State's paramount duty of funding education would be fulfilled.

This is the second time in the state's history that the Supreme Court has rendered a decision on the state's Constitutional obligation for ample funding of basic education. The last time the Court took up the issue was more than 30 years ago, commonly referred to as the Doran decision.

In its decision, the Supreme Court is retaining jurisdiction over the case to help facilitate progress in the State's plan to fully implement the reforms of ESHB 2261 by 2018. This means the Court will continue to stay aware of the reforms, and how the funding and schedules adopted in SHB 2776 (Chapter 236, Laws of 2010) will be implemented.

In the 2011 session, and again in the 2011 special session, lawmakers were considering SB 5475, which would have removed all the references to 2018 implementation and replaced the date with a vague reference to "a schedule adopted by the legislature."

At an AP press conference today, House and Senate majority and minority leaders referenced the decision repeatedly, including how they plan to address the Court's decision while also balancing a budget with a projected shortfall of about $1 billion. The press conference will be available on TVW later today.

To read the majority decision (79 pages), click here. For the minority dissent (5 pages), click here.