SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5258

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 of February 1, 2017

Title: An act relating to creating the Washington academic, innovation, and mentoring program.

Brief Description: Creating the Washington academic, innovation, and mentoring (AIM) program.

Sponsors: Senators Zeiger, Fain, Mullet, Rolfes, Chase, Kuderer and Hunt.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/31/17.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates the Washington Academic, Innovation, and Mentoring (AIM) program in statute to establish neighborhood programs after school and during the summer in 50 communities statewide.
Directs the Department of Commerce to administer the AIM program.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background: The 2015–17 State Operating Budget appropriated $250,000 to fund the AIM grant program over two years. The proviso required that to receive a grant an entity must be a nonprofit corporation that has federal tax exempt status, is affiliated with a congressionally chartered organization, and meets other specified criteria, which includes providing after-school and summer programs in a minimum of 50 communities statewide. The grant must be used to pilot out-of-school time programs that include educational services, mentoring, and linkages to prosocial leisure and recreational activities for youth who are six to eighteen years of age. Additionally, programs must at least two of three activity areas:

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM);
homework support and high-yield learning opportunities; and
career exploration.

The Washington State Boys & Girls Clubs Association received the AIM grant and piloted programming in five communities: Bellevue, Mt. Vernon, Spokane, Tacoma, and Vancouver. The full project period extends from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017. The Superintendent of Public Instruction submitted a report on the AIM program in January 2017.

The United States Internal Revenue Code exempts nonprofit organizations from some federal income taxes when the organization's purpose is charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.

A congressional charter is a law passed by the United States Congress that states the mission, authority, and activities of a patriotic, charitable, historical, educational or other group. However, Congress does not oversee or supervise organizations with such a charter. There are over 90 organizations with a congressional charter, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club of America, Disabled American Veterans, Girls Scouts of the United States of America, Little League Baseball, the National Education Association of the United States, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Summary of Bill: The AIM program is created in statute to enable eligible entities to provide out-of-school programs for youth who are six to eighteen years of age. An eligible entity is a nonprofit corporation that has federal tax exempt status, is affiliated with a congressionally chartered organization, and meets other specified criteria, which includes providing after school and summer programs in a minimum of 50 communities statewide.

The out-of-school programs provided include educational services, mentoring, and linkages to positive, prosocial leisure, and recreational activities. The programs must include at least two of the following three activity areas:

STEM;
homework support and high-yield learning opportunities; and
career exploration.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers the AIM program. No more than 4 percent of the funding provided may be used for administrative purposes. The goal is to provide the program in a minimum of 50 communities statewide. Sixty percent or more of the participants must qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch. Each entity funded must report to Commerce the number of youth served, the types of services provided, and the resulting outcomes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill holds a lot of promise to help kids. The program carried out under the budget proviso has had good results and should be in statute. This program is focused on family, school, and community engagement to assist kids in reaching their full potential, including academic success. A big part of this program is helping students to learn during the summer because the "summer slide" that occurs when students are out of school during the summer has a very negative impact. It is important to partner with school districts for improving student academics in addition to providing other wrap-around services. Local levy funding that is currently used by many districts for this type of program should be protected and increased. Research shows that academic learning and mentoring outside of school through extended learning opportunity programs does result in higher graduation rates and lower drop out rates for the students that participate in these programs. We support these types of programs across the state and would support an amendment that will permit additional organizations to provide these programs and other high-quality extended learning opportunities.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Hans Zeiger, Prime Sponsor; David Beard, School's Out Washington; Matt Watrous, Boys and Girls Clubs of Washington; Carrie Holden, Boys and Girls Clubs; Masao Yamada, BGC; Moses Shiong, BGC; Charlie Brown, Tacoma Public Schools; Ryan Vance, student, Graham-Kapowsin High School.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.