The legislature recognizes that school nurses, social workers, psychologists, and school counselors are uniquely qualified to provide essential supports that address the physical, social, and emotional needs of students. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the health and well-being of students, the need for comprehensive student supports has grown beyond what is currently funded in the prototypical school model. Therefore, the legislature intends to provide increased allocations to school districts exclusively for the use of support staff salaries and benefits. The legislature hopes that this enhanced state funding will allow school districts to redirect local levy dollars previously spent on these positions to address learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or to hire additional physical, social, and emotional support staff.
This section modifies existing section 28A.400.007. Here is the modified chapter for context.
In addition to the staffing units in RCW 28A.150.260, the superintendent of public instruction must provide school districts with allocations for the following staff units if and to the extent that funding is specifically appropriated and designated for that category of staffing unit in the omnibus operating appropriations act.
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Principals, assistant principals, and other certificated building-level administrators
0.0470
0.0470
0.0200
Teacher-librarians, a function that includes information literacy, technology, and media to support school library media programs
0.3370
0.4810
0.4770
Teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees
1.0640
0.3000
0.3480
Office support and other noninstructional aides
0.9880
1.1750
0.2310
Custodians
0.0430
0.0580
0.0350
Physical, social, and emotional support staff:
Classified staff providing student and staff safety
0.0000
0.6080
1.1590
Parent involvement coordinators
0.9175
1.0000
1.0000
b. Additional certificated instructional staff units sufficient to achieve the following reductions in class size in each level of prototypical school under RCW 28A.150.260:
General education
certificated instructional
staff units sufficient to
achieve class size reduction of:
Grades K-3 class size0.00
Grade 42.00
Grades 5-62.00
Grades 7-83.53
Grades 9-123.74
CTE4.00
Skills3.00
High poverty
certificated instructional
staff units sufficient to
achieve class size reduction of:
Grades K-3 class size2.00
Grade 45.00
Grades 5-64.00
Grades 7-85.53
Grades 9-125.74