HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 456
BYRepresentatives Spanel, Ebersole, Dellwo, Zellinsky, P. King, Wang, Holm, Valle, Haugen, Cole, Appelwick, O'Brien, Pruitt, Hine, Locke, Winsley, Rayburn, Unsoeld, Rasmussen, K. Wilson, Sprenkle, R. King, McMullen and Miller; by request of Governor Gardner
Establishing programs to enhance students' ability to learn.
House Committe on Education
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (18).
Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Holland, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, Todd, Valle and Walker.
House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)
Rereferred House Committee on Ways and Means
Majority Report: The second substitute be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. (29)
Signed by Representatives Grimm, Chair; Bristow, Vice Chair; Allen, Appelwick, Basich, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Ebersole, Grant, Hine, Holland, Locke, Madsen, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Schoon, Silver, H. Sommers, Sprenkle, Taylor, Valley, .B. Williams and Winsley.
Minority Report: Do not pass. (1)
Signed by Representative Fuhrman.
House Staff: Janet Peterson (786-7143)
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS MARCH 7, 1987
BACKGROUND:
Since the 1984-85 school year, the state has funded a limited number of model dropout prevention programs in public schools, and teacher training in drug and alcohol education.
In the 1985-87 biennium, the state of Washington initiated the Early Childhood Assistance Program to meet the needs of children from low income families. In each of these programs, the current grants do not meet the full demand for services, and programs are not available in all communities.
SUMMARY:
SECOND SUBSTITUTE: Project Even Start
Project Even Start is established to provide adult literacy programs for parents whose basic academic skills are below eighth grade level. These adult literacy programs will be available for the parents of children eligible for Headstart, the Early Childhood Education Program, and elementary school programs serving students below average in the basic skills of reading, language arts and mathematics.
In addition to instruction in basic skills, eligible parents shall receive support including, but not limited to, transportation and child care. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall work cooperatively with adult literacy programs in the common schools, vocational technical institutes, community based programs, and community colleges to provide training for qualifying parents. Existing programs should be used before new programs are funded.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall report on effectiveness of the program by January 15, 1989. After the initial report, reports shall be submitted biennially.
Early Childhood Assistance Program
The funding for state-supported preschool programs for "at risk" children, administered by the Department of Community Development, shall be continued and shall not be limited to an average of $2700 per child.
Dropout Programs
Each school district with a dropout rate in the top 25 percent of all districts' dropout rates, shall develop and maintain a comprehensive, district-wide student motivation, retention and retrieval plan.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall distribute funds available for dropout prevention and retrieval programs to qualifying school districts on a per pupil basis. Priority shall be given to districts submitting initial planning and program development or implementation proposals where no program exists. Cooperatives of districts may qualify for funds if the cooperative includes one or more districts whose dropout rate is in the top 25 percent. Districts will be eligible to receive money every two years. Funds received for subsequent applications must be used to expand the dropout program to additional grades or schools, or to initiate new dropout programs. The grant money shall not supplant existing funding. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall give priority in subsequent awards to districts which have plans and programs which demonstrate effectiveness.
No eligible district, however, shall receive less than $5,000 in any school year and no district may receive more money than necessary to carry out their plan.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall adopt rules to implement the dropout program including but not limited to the following: 1) Requiring that a district provide for an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the program; 2) Requiring that no less than 20 percent of the implementations grant be used for identification and intervention programs in elementary and middle schools; 3) Establishing procedures allowing school districts to claim basic education allocation funds for students attending a program under the dropout implementation program outside the regular school-year calendar to the extent such attendance is in lieu of attendance within the regular school-year calendar; and 4) Determining the number of children within an applicant district who fail to complete their elementary and secondary education. Information on effective dropout programs shall be disseminated to all school districts and interested parties.
Youth Substance Abuse Act
Citizens of the state of Washington recognize the serious impact of alcohol and drug abuse on a child's self concept and ability to learn. The Youth Substance Abuse Program is created to help students develop skills to make decisions on the use of drugs and alcohol, to achieve and maintain a drug-free educational environment and to aid school districts in the development and implementation of comprehensive drug and alcohol policies addressing the issues of prevention, intervention and aftercare.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall adopt rules and distribute funds for the planning, development and implementation of educational and disciplinary policies. The programs shall address the issues of prevention, intervention, and aftercare activities.
The school district shall establish a community substance abuse advisory committee including representatives of school district instructional staff, students, parents, state and local government, law enforcement personnel, and the county coordinator of alcohol and drug treatment. The advisory committee shall work to coordinate school district programs and services with programs and services available in the community.
The district shall outline procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the programs implemented by the school district.
Joint applications may be submitted by school districts wishing to operate a cooperative program.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall appoint a statewide advisory committee on substance abuse composed of certificated and noncertificated school employees, administrators, parents, school directors, and representatives of the bureau of alcohol and substance abuse, the traffic safety commission and county coordinators of alcohol and drug treatment. The committee shall advise the Superintendent of Public Instruction on matters of program development, coordination and evaluation.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall disseminate information on effective drug and alcohol programs to all school districts and interested parties.
If any parts of the Youth Substance Abuse Act are in conflict with federal requirements which are prescribed as a condition of the allocation of federal funds, the conflicting provisions of this act shall be inoperative.
Community School Support
School districts shall develop school involvement programs to encourage and accommodate the participation in school activities of persons interested and involved with school age children. The school district may seek suggestions on the activities from local business, community organizations and governmental agencies and may enter into agreements with these entities to encourage employee participation. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall disseminate information on these programs to all segments of the community.
SECOND SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE: Provisions concerning use of public employees' annual or personal leave for voluntary school involvement programs are deleted. Also, the current sales and use tax exemption for donations of computers to schools and colleges is not expanded to include donations of any tangible personal property or services accepted by the school or college. Provisions establishing a statewide advisory committee on dropouts are deleted.
SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL: Before funding new adult literacy programs, the Superintendent shall utilize exiting adult literacy programs operated by the common schools, community colleges, vocational technical institutes, and community based non-profit organizations.
The number of students eligible for participation in the early childhood assistance program shall be based on money appropriated for this purpose rather than setting statutory limits on the size of the program.
Funding for school dropout programs shall be awarded on a per pupil basis with no eligible district receiving less than $5,000. No district shall receive more money than the cost of their plan or the maximum money available based on its student population, whichever is less. The requirement for a district to commit matching funds to the dropout program is eliminated.
Twenty hours of new leave for participating in school activities for state employees is eliminated. Employees may, however, use existing leave for this purpose so long as the time is worked out with the employer. An employer may elect to allow an employee to take leave without pay to participate in this program.
CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS: Second substitute proposed.
Fiscal Note: Attached.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: (Education) Frank Brouillet, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Judy Hartmann, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Terry Bergeson, President, Washington Education Association; Ben Edlund, Washington State School Directors' Association; John Kuamme, and Patricia Payne, Tacoma Public Schools; Delight Willing, Renton Vocational Technical Institute; Howard Coble, Washington Association of School Administrators; Charles Davis, Washington Association of Educational Clinics; Gary Higashi, Grays Harbor County; Leann Chaney, Washington Parent Teacher Association; Cris Shardelman, self; Catherine Watters, Citizens Education Center Northwest.
Substitute: (Ways & Means) Larry Swift, Washington State School Directors Association; Michele Radosevich, Washington Education Association and Carolyn Little, Student.
House Committee - Testified Against: (Education) None Presented.
Substitute: (Ways & Means) None Presented.
House Committee - Testimony For: (Education) The school environment and the interest of parents and community play an important role in helping students to face the complexities of modern life. It is important that parents have the skills to support and encourage their children as they learn new skills. To do this parents also need the opportunity to acquire basic literacy skills.
The early years are important to "at risk" children and we should continue to support and expand the state's early childhood assistance program.
Drugs and alcohol abuse and dropping out of school significantly impact the present and future of our students. School districts must become involved to an even greater degree in addressing these serious problems. These programs must also coordinate with the community and its resources to provide a continuum of care and support for our students.
Community awareness and involvement are keys to a good school system, the state must set the example by encouraging its employees to become involved and volunteer in the local schools.
Business and individuals can also help by providing materials and services which a district might not be able to afford.
Substitute: (Ways & Means) Adult basic education programs are very successful in helping illiterate adults gain the skills they need to be effective parents and members of the community.
House Committee - Testimony Against: (Education) None Presented.
Substitute: (Ways & Means) None Presented.