HB 2826

HB 2826

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Priest, Ormsby, Sullivan, Haigh, Fromhold, Quall, Wallace, Kenney, Anderson, Conway, Haler, Wood, Roach and Simpson; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Background:

Overview of Career and Technical Education (CTE).

CTE Programs. Current law defines Secondary CTE as a planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options; supports academic and life skills; and enables achievement of high academic standards, leadership, and options for high skill employment preparation and advanced education.

Secondary CTE programs are offered by high schools and skill centers. There are 10 skill centers across the state which operate as cooperatives with participating school districts and offer in-depth programs for about 7,000 students. Students typically attend the skill center for part of the day and their home high school for the remainder of the day, although at least one skill center has an agreement with a partner school district to offer a diploma. Except for summer school, skill centers focus on upper division courses. Washington does not have a policy or model for four-year technical high schools as exist in some other states.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is required to set standards for and approve all CTE courses and programs. The current standards distinguish between exploratory and preparatory programs. In preparatory programs, students apply the Essential Academic Learning Requirements to meet industry-defined standards for a specific career; demonstrate leadership and employability skills; and become ready for postsecondary options and/or employment. In 2006, the OSPI began a five-year re-approval process for all CTE courses to ensure alignment with the program standards.

Funding. School districts receive enhanced state funding for students enrolled in approved CTE courses. In the general apportionment funding formula, the staffing ratio for high schools is .92 certificated instructional staff (CIS) and .08 certificated administrative staff (CAS) for every 19.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) students. The staffing ratio for skill centers is based on 16.67 FTE students. The nonemployee related cost (NERC) allocation for each CIS is $23,831 in high school CTE programs and $18,849 in skill center programs. The 2007-09 budget also contains $9.4 million for CTE program equipment replacement.

Program Agreements. For a number of years, the federal government has supported alignment between secondary and postsecondary CTE programs through Tech Prep, which encourages articulation agreements so that students can earn dual credit for CTE courses. In 2003-04, nearly 13,700 high school students earned more than 86,000 college credits through Tech Prep. The Tech Prep agreements tend to be negotiated for each school and college by individual teachers and faculty. Although post-diploma CTE programs fall under the purview of the community and technical colleges, some colleges have created agreements to allow recent high school graduates to continue to enroll in skill center courses so they can complete industry certification, particularly where the college does not offer the program.

The 2006 re-enactment of the federal Carl Perkins Act expanded the expectation for secondary and postsecondary alignment, as well as alignment with workforce needs, by requiring that school districts create CTE Programs of Study which:

The new Perkins Act also imposes accountability measures and reporting requirements regarding performance of CTE students.

Other CTE Topics.

Course Equivalencies. Legislation enacted in 2006 requires school districts to adopt course equivalencies for CTE and academic courses, for whole or partial credit. A course equivalent is recorded on the student's transcript using the academic course title. There is limited information on the extent that school districts are adopting equivalencies; the academic content of some CTE courses might need to be enhanced to be considered equivalent.

CTE Collection of Evidence. When the Legislature authorized the collection of evidence as an alternative assessment to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), a special CTE collection of evidence was also created. The CTE collections were intended to be relevant to the student's particular CTE program and contain work samples from CTE courses. However, a separate CTE collection of evidence pathway has not been developed.

Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST). In 2004, the community and technical colleges began a demonstration project to integrate English as a Second Language (ESL), basic skills, and profession-technical instruction in a single classroom, rather than provide these skills in a sequence. Research indicates that students learn as much English and complete far more workforce training under I-BEST than under traditional instruction. Because I-BEST programs typically pair an ESL faculty with a professional-technical faculty to provide instruction, they are a more expensive delivery model.

Teachers. The CTE teachers are certified through traditional teacher preparation programs or through special programs designed to provide skills in instruction and classroom management to individuals with business and industry experience in a specific field. The Future Teachers' Conditional Scholarship Program provides financial aid for students who make a commitment to teach in public schools once they have completed a preparation program. The capacity of the current program is being used for scholarships for future mathematics and science teachers.

Summary of Bill:

CTE Programs. By August 31, 2010, all preparatory CTE programs approved by the OSPI must:

The OSPI develops a schedule for CTE program reapproval that includes an abbreviated review process for programs that have already been re-approved since 2005.

The OSPI establishes performance measures and targets for program accountability, including addressing high demand programs, dual credit, and other topics consistent with federal accountability requirements. School districts that fail to meet the targets must submit an improvement plan. Consecutive failure for three years can be the basis for denying approval or re-approval of the CTE programs.

The OSPI and various state higher education agencies must work with local schools and institutions of higher education to develop model CTE Programs of Study that lead to an industry credential or an associate or baccalaureate degree. The characteristics of the Programs of Study mirror federal Perkins Act requirements. The first model programs developed must be in construction, health care, and information technology. Each year, new model programs must be developed with a priority on high demand programs.

High Demand Programs. The OSPI, along with other state workforce agencies, must identify statewide high demand programs for secondary CTE, using lists of high demand programs developed through other state agencies and programs.. School districts can also submit evidence of local high demand. High demand means a program that prepares students for:

Subject to funding, one-time grants are provided to middle schools, high schools, and skill centers to develop or upgrade high demand programs. There is a priority for high cost programs and those in highest state or regional demand.

Funding. Beginning in the 2008-09 school year, the general apportionment staffing allocation for high school CTE programs is changed from being based on 19.5 FTE students to being based on 18.5 FTE students. The skill center NERC allocation is made equal to the high school allocation. School districts receive an additional allocation for equipment replacement; the rate is specified in the operating budget. If funds are provided, OSPI allocates grants for summer CTE programs in math, science, and technology in middle and high schools. The OSPI must ensure that dollars from the Student Achievement Fund follow students to a skill center.

Program Agreements. Community and technical colleges are directed to create dual credit agreements with secondary schools, and agreements must be approved by the chief instructional officer. Agreements may be with schools outside the college district boundary. If one college grants dual credit for a secondary CTE course, all colleges must accept the course for equal credit.

Skill centers can enter agreements with colleges to offer CTE courses for students who have graduated from high school but need additional coursework to complete industry certification. Students are considered college students for enrollment, tuition, and financial aid. The agreement specifies a per-FTE amount from the college to the skill center to pay for the courses. Skill centers can also create agreements with participating school districts to offer diplomas for students without co-enrollment in a high school as a junior or senior, with programs focused on providing dropout prevention and retrieval and serving 5th year seniors.

Campaign for CTE. The OSPI is directed to develop and conduct an ongoing campaign to increase awareness about opportunities offered by rigorous CTE programs. Messages in the campaign emphasize CTE as a high quality educational pathway. The OSPI uses multiple strategies to support the campaign, depending on funds available, and seeks advice, participation, and financial assistance from various stakeholders.

Exploration of CTE options and careers in emerging and high demand programs is included in the recommended curriculum for comprehensive guidance and planning programs.

Course Equivalencies. The OSPI must support school district efforts to adopt course equivalencies for CTE courses by recommending suitable curriculum, publicizing best practices, and providing professional development and technical assistance. Subject to funding, grants are provided to increase the integration and rigor of academic content in CTE courses. School districts that grant academic credit for a CTE equivalent must also issue a course completion certificate so that the course qualifies for CTE dual credit or pre-apprenticeship requirements.

Collection of Evidence. Rather than designating a separate CTE collection of evidence, OSPI is directed to create guidelines that include multiple examples of possible work samples tailored to different CTE programs. The purpose of the guidelines is to illustrate applied and relevant opportunities for students to demonstrate their skills when compiling a collection. Guidelines for at least ten different CTE programs must be developed by September 1, 2008, with an additional ten developed by June 1, 2009.

Secondary I-BEST. Subject to funds, three-year pilot project grants are provided for integrated CTE, academic/basic skills, and ESL instruction at the secondary level, modeled after community and technical college programs. An evaluation including comparison of student achievement gains is required with a report by December 1, 2011. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges provides technical assistance and designates mentor colleges for the project.

Teachers. Subject to funds, prospective CTE teachers are eligible for the Future Teachers' Conditional Scholarship Program through a separately-selected pool of candidates. The OSPI selects recipients with a priority on teachers for high demand fields.

Assessment Fees. Subject to funds, grants are made available to eligible students to offset assessment or exam fees for industry certification. Students must have a family income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Technical High Schools. The OSPI is directed to conduct a feasibility study for creating technical high schools in Washington. The study addresses definitions, governance, funding models, student population, operations, and the possible transition of current schools into technical high schools. A progress report is due December 1, 2008, and a final report with recommendations is due September 15, 2009.

A new chapter of law is created for Career and Technical Education.

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

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

Education Committee