Joint task force created to establish a new basic education funding system for Washington state

By Barbara L. Mertens, Ed.D.
Assistant Executive Director
Washington Association of School Administrators

The Basic Education Funding Act, E2SSB 5627 (Chapter 399, Laws of 2007), was passed by the 2007 Washington State Legislature in April and signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 9, 2007. As a follow-up to the Governor’s “Washington Learns”, an 18-month review of early learning, K-12 and higher education in Washington, this joint task force was established to “update the state’s definition of basic education” and to ensure that the corresponding funding formulas “keep pace with evolving educational practices and increasing state and federal requirements so that all schools have the resources they need to help give all students the opportunity to be fully prepared to compete in a global economy.” The task force will address “the details and next steps beyond the 2007-09 biennium that will be necessary to implement a new comprehensive K-12 finance formula and that will provide Washington schools with stable and adequate funding as the expectations for the K-12 system continue to evolve.”

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

Elected officials on the task force include:

Dr. Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Senator Lisa Brown (D-3) Senate Majority Leader
Senator Rodney Tom (D-48) Vice Chair, Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education
Senator Mike Hewitt (R-16) Senate Minority Leader
Senator Janéa Holmquist (R-13) Ranking Minority, Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education
Representative Kathy Haigh (D-35) Chair, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
Representative Ross Hunter (D-48) Chair, House Finance Committee
Representative Pat Sullivan (D-47) Vice Chair, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
Representation Glenn Anderson (R-5) Ranking Minority Member, Senate Higher Education
Representative Fred Jarrett (R-41) House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
Representative Skip Priest (R-30) Ranking Minority Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES ON THE TASK FORCE INCLUDE

Dan Grimm, director of Doughty Hanson & Co. and a former legislative budget leader and state treasurer, was appointed chair of the task force.
Cheryl Chow, president of Seattle School District board of directors and long-time educator with teaching, administration and state agency experience.
Dr. Bette Hyde, superintendent of the Bremerton School District and a member of the Washington Learns K–12 advisory committee.
Jim Kowalkowski, superintendent of the Davenport School District and the executive director of the Rural Education Center at Washington State University.
Laurie Dolan, Office of the Governor/Office of Financial Management, director of the Executive Policy Office for Governor Gregoire with 30 years working for Spokane Public Schools.

RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy will consult with stakeholders and experts in the field while conducting research directed by the task force. The Institute may request assistance from LEAP (the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program committee), OSPI (the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction), OFM (the Office of Financial Management), the House Office of Program Research and the Senate Committee Services.

The task force must review and build on the following:

Reports related to K-12 finance produced at the request of or as a result of the Washington learns study, including reports completed for or by the K-12 advisory committee www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov;

High-quality studies that are available; and,

The repository of research and evaluation of the cost-benefits of various K-12 programs and services developed by the institute as directed by the 2006 legislature (Chapter 372, Laws of 2006; Sec. 607(15)).

TIMELINES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Washington Institute for Public Policy will provide the task force with the following reports:

An initial report by September 15, 2007, proposing an initial plan of action, reporting dates, timelines for fulfilling the priorities listed below, and an initial timeline for a phased-in implementation of a new funding system that does not exceed six years;

A second report by December 1, 2007, including implementing legislation as necessary, for at least two but no more than four options for allocating school employee compensation. One of the options must be a redirection and prioritization within existing resources based on research-proven education programs. The report must also include a projection of the expected effect of the investment made under the new funding structure. The second report shall also include a finalized timeline and plan for addressing the remaining components of a new funding system; and,

A final report with at least two but no more than four options for revising the remaining K-12 funding structure, including implementing legislation as necessary, and a timeline for phasing in full adoption of the new funding structure. The final report shall be submitted to the joint task force by September 15, 2008. One of the options must be a redirection and prioritization within existing resources based on research-proven education programs. The final report must also include a projection of the expected effect of the investment made under the new funding structure.

PRIORITIES

Alternative structures developed by the task force must take into consideration priorities identified in the legislation, to the maximum extent possible and as appropriate to each formula. The funding structure must reflect the most effective instructional strategies and service delivery models based on research-proven education programs and activities with demonstrated cost benefits. In doing this, the task force must consider the following:

Professional development for all staff;

Whether the compensation system for instructional staff will include pay for performance, knowledge, and skills elements; regional cost-of-living elements; elements to recognize assignments that are difficult; recognition for the professional teaching level certificate in the salary allocation model; and a plan to implement the pay structure;

Voluntary all-day kindergarten;

Optimum class size, including different class sizes based on grade level and ways to reduce class size;

Focused instructional support for students and schools;

Extended school day and school year options; and,

Health and safety requirements.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Finally: the task force recommendations must provide maximum transparency of the K-12 funding system so that parents, citizens and school personnel understand how the system is funded; and, the funding structure must be linked to accountability for student outcomes and performance.

The task force’s first meeting was September 10, 2007 in Olympia. Subsequent meetings were held on October 22, November 19-20 and December 13.