Brief Description: Providing a funding formula for skill centers.

Sponsors: Representatives Ormsby, Priest, Fromhold, Cox, P. Sullivan, Jarrett, Kenney, Buri, Ericks, Conway, Quall, Simpson, Lantz, McCoy, Chase, Moeller and Wood.

Hearing Date: 2/16/05

Staff: Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

Skills centers provide high school students with career and technical education programs that include both job preparation and academic skills.. Through these regional consortia, local school districts are able to collectively offer programs that would be hard for a lone district to afford. The centers are an integral part of the K-12 system and are operated as an extension of high schools within a local region.

There are ten skills centers operating in Washington. Eighty-five school districts across the state are members of one of the skills center consortiums. Six of the centers serve students in Western Washington; the other four serve students in Eastern Washington. They are governed by an administrative council comprised of the superintendents of the participating districts.

Skills centers are attended by students with diverse needs. The programs use competency-based individualized instruction, applied academics, and technology training to teach occupational skills. These occupational skills include basic skills, critical thinking skills, leadership skills, and work skills.

Skills centers receive state funding on a 16.67:1 ratio. The FTE (full time equivalent) is split with .6 going to Skills Centers and .4 to sending high schools. The money allocated for the centers is spent on salaries & benefits, supplies, instructional materials, contracted services, travel, and capital expense. Skills centers do not run bond or levy campaigns; all monies come through state funding or grants.

Summary of Bill:

The funding formula for a skill center student shall be determined based upon the student's aggregate enrolled hours of instruction, not to exceed 1.2 full-time equivalent.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.