Legislative Report (Vol. XXVI No. 12) March 30, 2007
Teacher Quality Passes House Education Committee
Teacher Quality Passes House Education Committee The House Education Committee this week passed SF 277, the Teacher Quality bill. The House committee made various changes to the Senate version. The most significant of these were:
- Administration and the Local Association can mutually agree to assign the responsibilities of the Teacher Quality Committee to an existing committee, appoint members from an existing committee to the Teacher Quality Committee, or to have an existing committee act as an advisory committee.
- The goal of one additional professional development contract day or equivalent was added to the use of the professional development funds.
- The language stating a teacher must be given an opportunity to participate in an intensive assistance program before any adverse employment consequences was removed. It was replaced with language stating a teacher who is not meeting the standards and criteria must participate in an intensive assistance program.
- Creates two pay-for-performance pilots and eight career ladder pilots. After the pilots, the Department of Education is required to implement the successful components of the pilots statewide, if funding is sustainable.
Before the bill can go to the full floor for debate it must first clear the Appropriations Committee. That action is expected to occur on Monday of next week. Full floor action is expected before the end of the week.
Sharing/Reorganization Bill Moving
The Senate this week passed SF 447 which deals with incentives for sharing between districts and between districts and other governmental entities. The bill also contains language providing incentives for sharing between AEAs.
The House Appropriations Committee also passed the House version of bill this week. It was amended in committee to conform to the Senate version. As was reported several weeks ago both bills now contain study language originally proposed two years ago but never acted upon. The study is to examine potential efficiency opportunities available to school districts and to compile reports. Specifically it provides that:
- Not later than September 15, 2007, the DE shall, in consultation with AEAs and other stakeholders, develop a process to facilitate discussion between schools to increase student achievement through an identification of sharing and efficiency efforts. The process is intended to promote a reduction in the costs of operation functions.
- The DE will receive an appropriation to hire staff members to coordinate and facilitate the process listed above.
- By January 15, 2008, each AEA shall submit a plan to the department which identifies the existing, new or expanded opportunities for school district sharing.
- The DE will compile the studies and submit to the General Assembly by March 15, 2008.
Other
- The House passed the Early Childhood Bill, HF 877
- Passed and sent to the Governor HF 468 which provides for a DE Study of a Statewide Student Information System.
- The AEA Legislative Breakfast this past week attracted close to half of the members of the General Assembly.
LEGISLATIVE BILL STATUS
As of March 30, 2007
*Denotes bills having a direct impact on AEAs
Bold italics indicate a change in status or bill number from the previous report
Bill |
Explanation |
Status |
---|---|---|
SF 61 | Antibullying Bill | Signed By Governor |
SF 62* | Dep’t of Education Cleanup Bill | Passed Senate – On House Debate Calendar |
SF 109* | FY ’09 Allowable Growth | Signed By Governor |
SF 128 | Cigarette Tax Hike | Signed by Governor |
SF 228 | Instructional Support Levy Change | On Senate Debate Calendar |
SF 277* | Teacher Quality Legislation | Passed Senate – Passed House Ed. Committee – Sent to House Approp. Cmte. |
SF 350* | 4-year Old Preschool Programs | On Senate Debate Calendar |
SF 383 | Banning of Parent-Teacher Conferences on Election Days | On Senate Debate Calendar |
SF 397 | Counting of Foreign Exchange Students in Certified Enrollment | Referred to Appropriations Committee |
SF 398 | DE Study of a Statewide Student Information System | Passed and sent to Governor as HF468 |
SF 413 | Fair Share – Public Sector | Passed Senate – On House Debate Calendar |
SF 447* | Sharing Incentives/Sharing Study | Passed Senate |
SF 455 | Ban Sex Offenders From School Grounds | On Senate Debate Calendar |
SF 464 | Changes in 9-12 PE Requirements | Referred to Appropriations Committee |
SF 468 | Model Core Curriculum Standards | On Senate Debate Calendar |
HF 317 | Fiscal Phase II Visits | Passed House. Passed Senate To Governor |
HF 415 | School Attendance Task Force | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 439 Now HF 841 | Task Force on pk-16 Articulation | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 459 | Expanded Use of PPEL for Software | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 468 | DE Study of a Statewide Student Information System | Passed House. Passed Senate To Governor |
HF 469 | Expanded Use of PPEL for Transportation Expenses | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 517 | Dental Screen as a Condition of Enrollment | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 527 – Now HF 877* | 4-year Old Preschool Programs | See HF 877 |
HF 534* | Sharing Incentives/Sharing Study | Passed Approp. Cmte – To full House |
HF 555 | Cigarette Tax Hike (Became SF 128) | Signed By Governor |
HF 611* | Human Growth and Development Curriculum Changes | Passed House |
HF 615 | Changes to BOEE Membership | Passed House |
HF 670 | Practitioner Teaching Assignments/Review of Accred. Standards | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 714 | ICN Course Supplemental Weighting | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 754 | Ban Tobacco at School Related Facilities | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 755 | AP Exam Fee Funding | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 756 | Ban Sex Offenders From School Grounds | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 779 | Raises Compulsory School Attendance from 16-18 | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 804 | Model Core Curriculum Standards | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 816 | School Attendance Task Force and Appropriation | In House Approp. Committee |
HF 841 | Task Force on pk-16 Articulation | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 854 | Statewide One Cent Sales Tax – SILO | On House Debate Calendar |
HF 877* | 4-year Old Preschool Programs | Passed House – To Senate |