Washington State House of Representatives House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

House panel releases supplemental budget recommendations for education

January 28, 2008

OLYMPIA – The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (APPE) released budget recommendations today that committee leaders say will help prepare children for kindergarten, help students graduate, and enable more families to send their kids to college. 

Since opening day of the 2008 session, the education subcommittee has met nearly every day, holding hearings and working with stakeholders in every aspect of the state’s education system, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. Ultimately, the House proposal invests a nearly identical amount to the Governor’s recommendations, coming in just under the Governor’s at $203,000 less. 

Their budget proposal recognizes the significant education investments made in the 2007-09 Biennial Operating Budget.

Rep. Kathy Haigh (D-Shelton), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education believes the need for only minor tweaks in this supplemental budget is due to the smart investments made last year.

“The biennial budget we built last year invested more in Education than ever before,” said Haigh. “That made it easy to deal with issues that have emerged since then and keep us on the right track towards a seamless education system from pre-kindergarten through college.”

The proposal invests an additional $59.8 million in targeted spending for Early Learning, K-12, and Higher Education.

Early Learning

APPE:            $4.7 million
Governor:        $4.7 million
Difference:       $0

Excess revenue in the Childcare Development Fund will be redirected to fund:

• Early Learning Community Match: $150,000
• Washington Scholarships: $187,000
• Higher Ed & Community College Childcare: $300,000

“I was happy to see the Governor’s proposal recognizes that early learning is key to every child’s success,” said Rep. Ruth Kagi (D-Lake Forest Park), chair of the Early Learning and Children Services Committee. “The more we learn about how children learn, the more imperative it becomes to start their formal training earlier if we want to improve their chances of academic success later.” 

K-12 Public Schools

APPE:             $39.5 million
Governor:         $39.5 million
Difference:       $0

The APPE budget funds $2.1 million less than the Governor’s budget for the additional cost to develop, administer, and score the WASL for 2009.

Special Education Safety Net Rule Change: The APPE budget funds one year only ($3.1 million) as compared to two years in the Governor’s budget at $6.2 million.

Other K-12 additions include:

• Non-Employee Related Costs (books, computers, etc.): $5 million
• English Language Learner Programs: $1.5 million
• Safe & Drug Free Schools: $800,000

“This budget puts a fair amount of money towards things like books and computers that students really need to succeed,” said Education Committee chairman, Rep. Dave Quall (D-Mount Vernon.) “You can have great programs and wonderful teachers, but without the right tools, those kids will be at a disadvantage.”

Higher Education:

APPE:              $15.6 million
Governor:         $15.8 million
Difference:        - $203,000

Campus Safety:

$312,000 is funded for mental health counseling at UW, WSU, TESC, and WWU.

Higher Education Expansion: Additional slots for the Snohomish-Island-Skagit area are funded at $1.1 million. The Governor funded this amount for the UW North Campus.

Other Higher Education additions include:

• Childcare Institutional Grants: $2 million
• Higher Ed Accountability Pilot Project: $50,000
• Deaf  Educators: $125,000
• Performance Benchmarking: $120,000
• 21st Century Library Resources (SBCTC): $1.5 million

“This budget continues to expand access to higher learning options while keeping students safe and secure,” said Rep. Deb Wallace (D-Vancouver), Higher Education chair.

The committee proposes the same funding levels as the Governor for the State School for the Blind, the State School for the Deaf, and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.

“We propose spending nominally less than the Governor proposed,” said committee vice-chair Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-Covington).  “But our process of building the budget based on our priorities ensures that we reach every child and meet their needs for success in school.”

The APPE committee will hold a public hearing Tuesday, January 29, at 8 a.m. on the budget recommendations.