SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5227

BYSenate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Saling, Bauer, Patterson, Stratton, Smitherman, Williams, Lee and Hansen)

Establishing a state writing project to train educators.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 19, 1989; February 6, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5227 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  January 18, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, JANUARY 17, 1990

BACKGROUND:

One of the goals in the Higher Education Coordinating Board's master plan is "to increase efficiency through better K-12-higher education curriculum articulation."  A concern has also been expressed regarding academic preparation and the need for remediation.  Development of writing ability is crucial to successful performance in both the labor market and postsecondary education.  Models for effective academic collaboration with K-12 educators do exist.  The Puget Sound Writing Program at the University of Washington and a new smaller program at Washington State University/University of Idaho work with the teacher as learner practitioner, researcher, and colleague.  The program currently provides training for 24 teacher/consultants, inservice offerings for over 800 teachers, and improvement in the writing instruction received by over 25,000 common school students per year.

SUMMARY:

Each of the baccalaureate institutions is encouraged to develop curricula based on the National Writing Project model.  Teachers who return to college for additional course work will have the opportunity to be trained in the techniques provided for in the writer's project model.  The common schools and public institutions of higher education are encouraged to utilize any existing or planned telecommunications system to provide opportunities to teachers unable to attend courses on a campus.  Teachers will be encouraged to teach their fellow teachers in workshops and faculty development programs.  $25,000 is appropriated to the Higher Education Coordinating Board for carrying out the purpose of this act.  The curriculum is encouraged to include a method for evaluating participant and student progress using measures approved by the HEC Board or its designee.

Appropriation:    $25,000 to the HEC Board

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Bob Maier, WEA; Linda J. Clifton, PSWP; Kathy Reim, WEA; Mark Jury, WEA; Bonnie C. Hill; James M. Watson, Highline School District; Richard J. Dunne, English Dept. Chair, UW