HB 1051

SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1051

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.

As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Early Learning & K-12 Education, March 29, 2007
Ways & Means, April 2, 2007

Sponsors: Representatives Upthegrove, Kagi, P. Sullivan, Haigh, Simpson, Moeller, Green, Santos, Kenney, Williams, Hunter and Miloscia.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/15/07, 3/29/07 [DPA-WM, DNP].

Majority Report: Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Eide, Hobbs, Kauffman, Oemig, Rasmussen and Weinstein.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Holmquist, Ranking Minority Member; Clements, Hewitt and Zarelli.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.

Background: The State Board of Education establishes minimum high school graduation requirements for public schools. Students must complete at least 19 credits in specified content areas, complete a culminating project, and prepare a high school and beyond plan. Beginning with the class of 2008, students will also need to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) by meeting the state academic standards in reading, writing, and mathematics on the high school Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Local school districts may establish additional requirements. Students can enroll in public schools until they complete a diploma or turn age 21.

Washington's community and technical colleges have a broad mission that includes workforce training, academic degrees, and adult education. Additionally, the colleges offer high school diploma programs.

Summary of Bill: Students under age 21 who have completed all state and local graduation requirements except the CAA or the Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) can enroll in a high school completion program at a community or technical college and earn a high school diploma.

Colleges must make the programs available to any eligible student but can implement them in the following ways: contract with a local school district which will issue the diploma; deliver the program and courses directly and issue the diploma; or offer a combination of contracted program and direct delivery. Colleges must offer the programs on the college campus; they may also offer programs at additional locations other than high schools. Colleges, school districts, and educational service districts (ESDs) are not precluded from offering high school completion programs to students who do not meet the criteria in the bill. Colleges and school districts are encouraged to consult with ESDs about developing and offering the new programs.

Colleges cannot charge students in the programs tuition or fees for courses that lead to a high school diploma. If the college delivers a program directly, it is reimbursed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) for each full-time equivalent (FTE) college student at statewide uniform rates. Funding is calculated by totaling the following:

School districts must provide information to tenth-, eleventh-, and twelfth-grade students and their parents about the high school completion option. Student learning plans for high school students include this option, if applicable. Any student who completes all state and local graduation requirements except the CAA or the CIA may participate in high school graduation ceremonies.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT(S) AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Early Learning & K-12 Education): The amendment clarifies that each community or technical college must make a high school completion program available on the college campus or a satellite site, and it may not be offered on a high school campus unless a satellite site is located there. Colleges are allowed the option to work together to provide high school completion programs. To be an "eligible student" for a program, a student must meet the following criteria: receives a Level 2 (basic) score on the reading and writing content areas of the WASL; has not successfully met state standards on a retake of the assessment or an alternative assessment; has participated in assessment remediation; and receives a recommendation to enroll in a high school completion program from his or her high school principal. Colleges are not required to administer the WASL to students in the programs.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy must review the high school completion programs after July 1, 2010, and report certain criteria to SPI, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), and the Legislature by January 1, 2011. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and SBCTC must develop an estimate of the number of students likely to participate in the programs; identify and analyze possible service delivery models; and submit a report to the Legislature by December 15, 2007.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT(S) AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Ways & Means): The high school completion program is limited to two community and technical college pilot programs rather than implemented on a statewide basis. Technical changes are made to the language to conform to this change.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: This allows students to continue remedial courses to prepare for the WASL in an age-appropriate setting. Low WASL scores are a result of language barriers; thus, bilingual students need more time to improve their language skills. The programs give hope to students who have been working diligently toward a diploma. It is a wonderful opportunity to help students realize they can succeed in college. Some students do not fit the high school mold and are much more successful in community colleges. Many students need to work to support their family and this bill provides them the flexibility to continue school while working. These programs may overwhelm some colleges, but starting them as a pilot is not a good idea because students would not have equal access.

Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Representative Upthegrove, prime sponsor; Sally Zeiger Hanson, SBCTC; Jill Wakefield, President, South Seattle Community College; Mark Okazaki, Neighborhood House; Barbara Guzman, Latino/a Education Achievement Project; Kathy Purcell, Minority Executive Directors Coalition; Christie Perkins, Washington State Special Education Coalition; Rogelio Riojas, Sea Mar Community Health Centers; Michael Itti, League of Education Voters.