AN ACT Relating to educational opportunities; adding new sections to chapter 28A.03 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:

(a) Developments in technology, communications, and political activity have made people in this and other nations more aware of and dependent upon one another;

(b) The economy of the state of Washington has become increasingly dependent upon foreign trade and that if Washington is to become a leading state in international trade, the students of the state will need to be prepared;

(c) Existing multicultural and multi-ethnic programs are an essential foundation for an understanding of our nation's trading partners and that global international education is an important component of a well-balanced educational system;

(d) The basis for international education is respect for cultural and national differences and that an international perspective is indispensable for an understanding of one's own society;

(e) The concept of global international education in no way demands nor implies a diminution of national pride or concerns;

(f) If the United States is to maintain its position in world leadership, it is imperative that our youth understand and accept as a basic fact, global interdependence in economics, ecology, science, technology, sociology, and communications; and

(g) Our role as the world's greatest democracy and as a nation working for world peace is enhanced when we are equipped through our educational system to strengthen the bonds of communication, understanding, and trade between ourselves and others.

(2) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to provide opportunities for global international education to help prepare students for the future of this state and nation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The superintendent of public instruction shall establish and administer a global international education program and select on a grant proposal or other basis five school districts or a consortium of districts within an educational service district or both to participate in the program. The superintendent of public instruction shall base the selection upon factors including but not limited to geographical diversity, a balance between rural and urban districts, a district commitment to offer in-service training, and a district's application or willingness to participate in the program.

The program shall encompass at least eight grade levels. The program shall be held in schools operating a full regular education program but with separate teachers or teacher hours, separate materials, and separate course offerings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The global international education program shall:

(1) Incorporate global perspectives as an integral part of the curriculum in order to stimulate understanding of this and other nations' social, economic, and political systems;

(2) Incorporate an interdisciplinary methodology in the school curriculum to help students appreciate the interdependent nature of topics and subject areas;

(3) Incorporate a varied and intensive foreign language program for at least eight grade levels including as a minimum Japanese or Mandarin Chinese and Russian;

(4) Be deemed to be a social studies subject for purposes of RCW 28A.05.060;

(5) Include students from other countries whenever possible;

(6) Provide an integrated and motivating educational environment;

(7) Include teaching staff diverse as to race and gender;

(8) Involve private enterprise, cultural and ethnic associations, and foreign trade or policy groups or organizations in the development of curriculum and seek funding through these sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. High school global international education programs shall offer students the opportunity to receive an international baccalaureate or to qualify for advanced placement within state institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The superintendent of public instruction shall contract for a state-wide global international education curriculum resource center but shall administer the funds for the center. The center shall be designed to provide technical assistance, workshops, and support for curriculum development to global international education programs. Teachers offering other programs in the schools are eligible to use resource center services. The center shall disseminate global international curriculum resource materials to school districts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The superintendent of public instruction shall annually provide a comprehensive training and skills development program in global international education for teachers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW by April 15, 1986, to implement sections 1 through 8 of this act. Available funds shall be provided to the participating school districts by July 1, 1986.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Persons not otherwise certificated who are teaching in the global international education program shall have special certificates issued by the superintendent of public instruction. These certificates shall be issued if the person has met qualifications for teaching in the global international education program which the state board of education shall establish and adopt by rule pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW by April 1, 1986.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Implementation of sections 1 through 8 of this act shall be subject to funds being available for such purposes. If funds are available, the global international education program shall be implemented beginning with the 1986-87 school year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1 through 8 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.03 RCW.