SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2653

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives G. Fisher, Jacobsen, Peery, Betrozoff, Fraser, Belcher, Rector, Spanel, Walker, H. Myers, Valle, Hine, R. Meyers, Anderson, Wineberry, Phillips, Winsley, Wood, Appelwick, Nelson and Schoon)

Requiring the superintendent of public instruction and the Henry M. Jackson school of International studies to provide services to develop international education.

House Committe on Higher Education

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 19, 1990; February 21, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Shawn Newman (786-7443)

                  February 22, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Lee, Niemi, Saling, Warnke, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Linda Brownell (786-7715)

                  February 27, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 26, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Recent studies indicate that students in the United States are not being taught the skills or knowledge needed to understand people and cultures in countries abroad.  For example, in a United Nations study of 30,000 ten to fourteen year-olds in nine countries, students from the United States ranked next to last in their understanding of foreign cultures.  In addition, only 1 percent of the elementary school students in the United States are taught a foreign language.

A study by Jim Henson of Washington State University discovered that many education and business leaders believe that the United States can no longer afford to look on geography, languages and area studies as mere luxuries.  The leaders believe that, if the citizens of this country are to survive in an ever shrinking world, educators must begin to teach these subjects as basics.  They recommend that the curriculum for present and future teachers be strengthened in subject areas related to international studies.  These areas include international topics, languages, economics, and geography.

Three of every five university graduates in this country will work either directly in international trade, or for a company that is involved in some aspect of international trade.  For this reason, business leaders recommend that new graduates entering the workforce have some expertise in a foreign language and have an understanding and appreciation of international differences in geography, cultures, economics, and politics.  Some of those leaders also expressed a preference for hiring graduates who have had some experience in traveling and living abroad.

SUMMARY:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to contract with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies of the University of Washington.  The purposes of the contract are described.  These purposes include working with education organizations to develop an awareness of the need for improved international education.  The purposes also include sharing information about the resources available for improving curricula devoted to international education.  The contractors will create new curricula, provide in-service training on international issues, develop course work for future teachers, and distribute a newsletter to promote teacher interchange.  Other purposes of the contract are also described.

By November 15, 1991, the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies will report to the House and Senate Education Committees and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The report will describe work completed under the contract by June 30, 1991.

$100,000 is appropriated to the school for the remainder of the biennium.  The appropriation is from the Superintendent of Public Instruction's general fund appropriation for the 1990- 91 school year.  The appropriation is contingent upon the Legislature providing a general fund appropriation to offset this amount.  No money from the contract may be spent by the University of Washington on administrative costs.

The University of Washington and Washington State University will organize and sponsor a conference on international education.  The universities will be assisted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Department of Trade and Economic Development, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and other institutions of higher education.  The conference will be held for legislators and educational and business leaders before the end of 1991.

The purposes of the conference are described.  These purposes promote the exploration of ways that educators can work with each other and with business people to strengthen international education curricula and to facilitate student and faculty exchanges abroad.  The conferees will also develop a strategy for using the combined resources of education and business to market Washington products and expertise abroad.  Other purposes are also delineated.

The universities will report the findings and recommendations of the conferees to the Legislature by June 30, 1992.  Funding for the conference will be provided by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Appropriation:    $100,000

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 19, 1990

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS:

The appropriation is given directly to the University of Washington rather than SPI.  Administrative overhead for the UW is limited to no more than 5 percent.  A strategy for marketing state products is eliminated from the conference development.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE WAYS & MEANS AMENDMENT:

The appropriation is removed and the bill is contingent upon funding in the budget.  Administrative overhead for the UW is limited to no more than 5 percent, and a strategy for marketing state products is eliminated from the conference development.

Senate Committee - Testified: HIGHER EDUCATION:  Jack Dull, UW Jackson Hall; Jere Backarach, UW History Department; Mary Bernson, UW Jackson Hall

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  No one