AN ACT Relating to the Washington fund for excellence in higher education program; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that encouraging collaboration among the various educational sectors to meet state-wide needs will strengthen the entire educational system, kindergarten through twelfth grade and higher education. The legislature also recognizes that the most effective way to develop innovative and collaborative programs is to encourage institutions to develop them voluntarily, in line with established state goals. Through a system of competitive grants, the legislature shall encourage the development of innovative and collaborative solutions to issues of critical state-wide need, including:

(1) Improving rates of participation and completion at each educational level;

(2) Recognizing needs of special populations of students;

(3) Improving the effectiveness of education by better coordinating communication between sectors.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The Washington fund for excellence in higher education program is established. The higher education coordinating board shall administer the program. Through this program the board may award on a competitive basis incentive grants to state public institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions to encourage cooperative programs designed to address specific system problems. Grants shall not exceed a two-year period. Each institution or consortia of institutions receiving the award shall contribute some financial support, either by covering part of the costs for the program during its implementation, or by assuming continuing support at the end of the grant period. Strong priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one sector of education, and to proposals that show substantive institutional commitment. Institutions are encouraged to solicit nonstate funds to support these cooperative programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The higher education coordinating board shall have the following powers and duties in administering the program:

(1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;

(2) To establish one or more review committees to assist in the evaluation of proposals for funding. The review committee shall include individuals with significant experience in higher education in areas relevant to one or more of the funding period priorities;

(3) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting grant proposals consistent with the overall goals of the program. During the 1991-93 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the following priorities: (a) Minority and diversity initiatives that encourage the participation of minorities in higher education, including students with disabilities, at a rate consistent with their proportion of the population; (b) K-12 teacher preparation models that encourage collaboration between higher education and K-12 to improve the preparedness of teachers; and (c) articulation and transfer activities to smooth the transfer of students from K-12 to higher education, or from the community colleges to four-year institutions. After June 30, 1993, and each biennium thereafter, the board shall determine funding priorities for collaborative proposals for the biennium in consultation with the governor, the legislature, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community college education, the state board for vocational education, higher education institutions, educational associations, and business and community groups consistent with state-wide needs;

(4) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the institutions of higher education about the program; and

(5) To establish reporting, monitoring, and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The higher education coordinating board may solicit and receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the program and may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The fund for excellence is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The higher education coordinating board shall deposit in the fund all moneys received under section 4 of this act. Moneys in the fund may be spent only for the purposes of sections 2 and 3 of this act. Disbursements from the fund shall be on the authorization of the higher education coordinating board. The fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 2 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.