S-52                  _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3296

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

 

By Senators Fleming and McDermott

 

 

Read first time 1/24/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

 

 


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.     The legislature finds that the developments of technology, communications, and political activity have made people in this and other nations more aware of and dependent upon one another.  The legislature finds that the economy of the state of Washington has become increasingly dependent upon foreign trade.  The legislature finds that an international perspective is indispensable for an understanding of one's own society.  The legislature finds the basis for international education is our respect for cultural and national differences.  Existing multicultural programs are an essential foundation for an understanding of our nation's trading partners.  The legislature finds that global international education is an important component of a well-balanced educational system.

          The legislature finds the concept of global international education in no way demands nor implies a diminution of national pride or national concerns.  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.  Our role as the world's greatest democracy and a nation working for world peace is enhanced when we are equipped by our educational system to strengthen the bonds of communication and trade between ourselves and others.  The legislature finds that if Washington is to become a leading state in international trade,the students of the state of Washington will need to be prepared.  Providing opportunities for global international education will 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.

          Five school districts or a consortium of districts within an educational service district or both shall be selected by the superintendent of public instruction to participate in the program.  The superintendent of public instruction shall base the competitive 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 may be designed for kindergarten through the twelfth grade.  The program shall encompass at least eight grade levels.  The program shall be held in existing schools but with separate teachers or teacher hours, separate materials, and separate course offerings.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.     The superintendent of public instruction shall administer the program.  The program shall be designed to:

          (1) Stimulate understanding of this nation's and other nations' social, economic, and  political systems by incorporating global perspectives as an integral part of the curriculum;

          (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) Include students who represent a full range of backgrounds and skills;

          (5) Include students from other countries whenever possible;

          (6) Provide an integrated and motivating educational environment and meet, at a minimum, graduation requirements under chapter 28A.05 RCW;

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

          (8)  Involve private enterprise in the development of curriculum and seek funding from private enterprise;

          (9) Involve cultural and ethnic associations, foreign trade, and foreign 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.  The center shall be designed to provide technical assistance, workshops, or 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 during each fiscal year shall offer and conduct a comprehensive training and skills development program in global international education for teachers.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.     The superintendent of public instruction shall administer the funds for the global international education program and the global international education curriculum resource center.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.     The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt standards by rule by April 15, 1986, to provide for the allocation of funds for the global international education program among school districts.  Available funds shall be provided to the applicable school districts by July 1, 1986.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.     Persons not otherwise certificated 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 standards, which the state board of education shall adopt by rule by April 1, 1986, establishing qualifications for persons teaching in the global international education program.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.    Implementation of sections 1 through 9 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. 11.    Sections 1 through 9 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.03 RCW.