Basic Education Finance Task Force update

SUMMARY OF EDUCATION ISSUES FROM 2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Prepared by the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession

The 2009 legislative session is finally over - whew! While it was a long session, in more ways than one way, CSTP wants to provide you with a short post-session wrap-up of some of the major education items important to teachers that we tracked over the last 105 days.

This summary contains information and additional resources about -

• The education funding bill, house bill 2261. Also see attached CSTP summary table.
• State budget information about education. Also see attached CSTP summary table.
• The Beginning Educator Support Program
• National Board Conditional Entry Fee Program
• National Board Bonuses
• Changes to educator preparation and certification charged to the Professional Educator Standards Board.

EDUCATION FUNDING BILL - HB 2261:

House Bill 2261 was passed by the legislature and begins the process of redefining basic education in Washington. Early in session, two other bills - HB 1410 and SB 5607 - were introduced based on recommendations of the Basic Education Finance Task Force. They were very controversial among education stakeholder groups and legislators, and ultimately died mid-way through session. HB 2261, a lesser-version of the previous bills, was then introduced and after much amending in both the House and Senate, was finally passed and signed by the Governor.

Click on the hyperlinks below for information about the bill:

• CSTP's summary table breaks out what the state currently provides or does in each area, what the state will provide or do as a result of the bill, a timeline and page reference.
• HB 2261 as it was signed by the Governor
• Governor's veto message

EDUCATION BUDGET:

The legislature finally came to agreement on the 2009 - 11 biennial state budget. Given the $9 billion shortfall, legislators had to make many tough decisions that did not bode well for education or other social service areas, in general. However, they were able to use some of the federal stimulus dollars to backfill some of their education cuts.

Click on the hyperlinks below for more information about the budget:

• CSTP's 3-way budget summary table highlights some of the education budget items, as they were proposed during session by the house and senate, and then the final budget they approved.
• Final Budget Bill - education starts in section 501.

MENTORING:

While education takes a big hit in the budget, there is a budget item that provides hope for the future. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the legislature enacted in their budget $4.7 million over the next two years to fund a Beginning Educator Support Program. This isn't the Teacher Assistance Program, but rather a redesigned program administered by OSPI that will grant up to 15 school districts, and/or regional consortia, funds to implement components of high-quality, research-based mentoring/induction for new teachers.
 
This is amazing news in light of the state's $9 billion shortfall coupled with the fact that mentoring was only funded in 1 of 3 proposed budgets during session - the Senate's. This is a testament to the hard work of educator teams that came to Olympia, others that contacted legislators in writing, by phone or over coffee, and other educational organizations that pushed this issue on the hill. Thank you for your hard work!

Specifically, the budget calls for several ‘to-do's' for the Beginning Educator Support Program:

• 1. OSPI will administer the program as grants for up to 15 school districts/regional consortia to implement a research-based mentoring/induction program.
• 2. OSPI will develop rules in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) by August 2009 to operate the program.
• 3. A progress evaluation of the program shall be administered.
• 4. A progress report to the legislature is due November 2010.

You can find the section in the budget by going to section 513, page 159 of the final budget.

NATIONAL BOARD CONDITIONAL ENTRY FEE PROGRAM:  

The legislature approved a new program that will assist interested teachers in pursuing the National Board process. The state will provide $2000 to cover some of the initial cost of entering the process. If a teacher certifies, that cost will then be subtracted from a teacher's first year bonus of $5000. If a teacher doesn't certify within 3 years, they will need to repay the $2000 back to the state. The legislature appropriated $3 million to begin the program, but over a few years, the cost will be recouped by the state and the program will be cost-neutral.

You can find the language in the budget by going to section 513, page 158 of the final budget.

NATIONAL BOARD BONUSES:

In their final budget, the legislature suspended COLAs for all teachers in the next two years and also suspended it from the National Board bonuses. The statute was amended and the state must make up the lost COLAs during those years by the 2014-15 school year.

You can find the language in the budget by going to Section 513, page 158 of the final budget.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD COMPOSITION & DUTIES:

This session the legislature passed House Bill 2003 that impacts the composition and duties of the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB).

A summary of the bill's changes are noted below.