H-0903.1/91       _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1213

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Betrozoff, Brumsickle, Peery, Brough, G. Fisher, Broback, Vance, Winsley, D. Sommers, Paris, May, Bowman, Miller, Horn, Wood, Wynne, Moyer, Basich and Tate.

 

Read first time January 23, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Education\Appropriations.

Establishing the quality schools academy.


     AN ACT Relating to quality schools; amending RCW 28A.630.075; adding new sections to chapter 28A.630 RCW; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that the changing economy of this state and nation makes it imperative, more so now than ever, that our schools use teaching methods and techniques that have been proven through research to be effective so that all of our children learn the knowledge and skills needed to lead successful lives both personally and economically in the twenty-first century.  The legislature further finds that the outcome-based education model is based on educational practices proven to work, and that student learning has dramatically increased in schools that have adopted an outcome-based educational process.  The legislature further finds that schools should be strongly encouraged to adopt an educational process based on the concepts of outcome-based education, and that the state should take steps to provide incentives, technical assistance, and encouragement to school districts interested in outcome-based education.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.      The state board of education shall establish the quality schools academy.  The objective of the academy shall be to advance quality school development in this state based upon the outcome-based education process.  The academy shall: 

     (1) Provide technical assistance and consultation to schools that are considering, developing, or implementing an outcome-based education process;

     (2) Administer the grant program under RCW 28A.630.075;

     (3) Promote quality control in the implementation of outcome-based education in the schools of the state;

     (4) Develop a process for evaluating and auditing outcome-based education programs;

     (5) Evaluate schools for the twenty-first century projects under RCW 28A.630.100 using outcome-based education models; and

     (6) Perform other activities intended to advance quality school development through the use of outcome-based education.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.      The quality schools academy advisory board is hereby established.  The advisory board shall provide advice and recommendations to the state board of education and to the staff of the academy with respect to the policies and programs of the academy, including, but not limited to, advice and recommendations on the awarding of grants in RCW 28A.630.075 and the evaluation of outcome-based education programs.  Members of the advisory board shall be selected by the state board of education.  At a minimum, the advisory board shall include persons representing teachers, principals, parents, school directors, school administrators, business, and the superintendent of public instruction.

 

     Sec. 4.  RCW 28A.630.075 and 1990 c 148 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

     The superintendent of public instruction, through the quality schools academy under section 2 of this 1991 act, may grant funds to school districts for schools to plan and implement outcome-based education programs.  Such grants shall carry out the purposes of the basic education act.  Grants shall be of sufficient size and scope, shall be granted for a five-year period, shall be subject to appropriations, and shall conform to the principles underlying the outcomes-driven education process.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.      Schools and school districts that commit to an outcome-based education process in which the primary goal is to ensure that all children will learn shall be exempt from all state compliance requirements upon approval by the quality schools academy advisory board and the state board of education of the school or school district's plan to achieve the goal.  To remain exempt from the compliance requirements, the school or school district shall show that at least eighty percent of its students are achieving annual improvements in student outcomes within the first five-year cycle and maintain at least this achievement rate thereafter.  The student outcomes expected by the school or school district shall be developed by the school or school district in consultation with its community according to processes that have proven records of success and within the principles of the outcome-based process.  Schools and school districts shall not be required to participate in the grant program in RCW 28A.630.075 to be exempted from the compliance requirements.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.      Sections 2, 3, and 5 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.630 RCW.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.      The sum of one million six hundred twenty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the state board of education to fund the quality schools academy created in section 2 of this act.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.      The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the state board of education to fund grants selected by the quality schools academy for purposes of RCW 28A.630.075.