EDUCATION-Week of January 30

SSB 3112 – FY14 Allowable Growth

SSB 3113 – FY14 Teacher Quality, Professional Development, Class Size Reduction

SF 2024 – Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant program

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SSB 3112 is the FY14 Allowable Growth bill (for the 2013-2014 school year), which sets the growth at 4 percent. The total estimated cost of school aid will be $2.809 million. This is an increase of $142.6 million over FY13. Four percent in FY14 will establish a total cost per pupil of $6,241 ($240 above FY13). The statewide voluntary preschool program is funded within the school aid formula. Preliminary enrollments for students eligible to receive preschool formula weighting totaled 19,900 in FY13. In FY14, a 4 percent allowable growth increase would generate $65.2 million, an increase of $5.5 million over FY13. [2/1: Short Form (Bowman excused)]

SSB 3113 is the FY14 Categorical Allowable Growth Bill (for the 2013-2014 school year), which sets a 4 percent growth rate for three long-standing education line-item appropriations: Teacher Quality and Phase II, Professional Development and Early Intervention (also known as Class Size Reduction money). The FY14 4 percent growth in the state categorical allowable formula means $11.9 million increase in Teacher Quality, $1.3 million in Professional Development and $1.4 million in Early Intervention. This is a total of $334.2 million, which is an increase of $14.6 million in categorical allowable growth. [2/1: Short Form (Bowman excused)]

SF 2024 establishes a new Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant program of $20 million to be administered by the College Student Aid Commission. A committee amendment clarifies the appropriation break outs, which include $2 million for GAP, $6 million for the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program (Sen. Kibbie’s new fund) and $12 million for 260C.18A (current umbrella for workforce training programs). The bill:

• Requires the Department of Workforce Development to identify industry areas experiencing worker shortages on a quarterly basis.
• Establishes a specific appropriation of $2 million for the GAP tuition assistance program for the community colleges. The GAP program, passed last year (but not funded), provides tuition assistance to need-based eligible applicants enrolled in certificate programs that offer a credential, a recognized certificate, preparation for a professional exam/licensure, provide endorsement to existing credential/license, or represent recognized skill standards defined by industry.
• Establishes criteria for recipients of the new Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant. Total funding is $6 million. [2/1: Short Form (Bowman excused)]