HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2765

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to vocational skills centers.

Brief Description:  Establishing grants for extended day school‑to‑work transition projects.

Sponsors:  Representatives Shin, Dorn, Quall, Wineberry, Holm, Pruitt, Basich and Orr.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 4, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; B. Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  There are eight vocational skills centers in Washington that provide technical and vocational education programs to high school students.  Instructional offerings include electronics, computer repair, office management, restaurant management, auto repair, and other career areas.  Basic skill and job readiness training is also provided.

While skill centers are at or near capacity during the school day, they are under-utilized in the late afternoon and evening.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An extended day school-to-work transition program is created in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The program is to fund five projects at vocational skills centers to provide extended day school-to-work transition options for students who have dropped out, who are at risk of academic failure, and who are enrolled full-time at a home high school.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amended bill removed the appropriation.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Education is the key to success in life, and we have too many students dropping out.  Skills centers provide young adults with a second chance, and are a proven "drop-out retrieval" program.  Having programs in the evening make it possible to work in the day, and go to school at night.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Shin (prime sponsor); Jim Taylor, New Market Vocational Skills Center (pro); Steve Barnes and Ian Jones, students (pro); Claudia Buxton, Sno-Isle Skills Center (pro); Janet Freeman, student (pro); Susan Patrick, Superintendent of Public Instruction (pro); and Kathleen Lopp, Washington Vocational Association (pro).