SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6738

BYSenators Bauer, Bailey, Saling, Lee, Rinehart and Sutherland

Establishing the summer motivation and academic residential training program.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 29, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                February 9, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 7, 1990

BACKGROUND:

A successful program in Texas, Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), was used as a model in developing the Summer Motivation and Academic Residential Training (SMART) program.  Campus based programs which help meet the needs of educationally at-risk youth vary in size, structure and emphasis.  The most successful, however, include many or all of the following elements:  collaboration and communication between state agencies, higher education institutions and elementary and secondary schools; the financial and administrative support of the participating college or university; comprehensive training for participating students; and program goals which include personal as well as academic growth for the youth.  Recent studies show that a majority of the dropouts do not lack the academic ability to complete school, rather, they lack the necessary self-confidence and support.  A national study documents that teenagers with the weakest reading and math skills by age 18 are four times as likely to be on welfare rather than employed.

Since 1988 the Higher Education Coordinating Board has supported and coordinated the SMART program as the lead agency in a multi-agency collaboration of a pilot project.  The programs have provided opportunity to at-risk youth on the campuses of Western Washington University, the University of Washington, and Washington State University.

The program combines emphasis on basic skills development (language arts, mathematics, and study skills), paid work experience, job skills training, career exploration, personal and career goal development, life skills enhancements, personal growth, and community service activities.  Activities included in the first year of the program were a parents' week-end; field trips to places like Boeing, Ross Dam, The Pacific Science Center, the Burke Museum, and sporting events; dinners with faculty members; and a range of on-campus job experiences.

SUMMARY:

The SMART program is created to reduce the drop-out rate of at-risk youth by providing a residential experience of eight weeks duration on a campus of a college or university for economically disadvantaged youth ages fourteen and fifteen.  The purpose of the program is to assist students in developing the skills, abilities and motivation required to complete high school and to expose students to the educational opportunities available on a college or university campus.  The program will be a partnership between the state and the private industry councils.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will be the lead state agency for program administration.  Participating state agencies will serve on a program steering committee.  The board, in cooperation with the steering committee, has primary responsibility for site selection, program management, monitoring and evaluation.  The board will also implement a student follow-up system.  The steering committee will establish participant selection criteria, consistent with the regulations in the federal Job Training Partnership Act.

Host sites for the program may be public or independent colleges or universities able to feed and house 60 students.  The number of sites may increase as funding permits.

Economically disadvantaged youth attending public schools are eligible to participate.  Participating students will be selected by private industry councils.  In cooperation with school districts and institutions of higher education, the councils will select students who will benefit most from the program.

The act is null and void if not specifically funded.

The act will expire June 30, 1995.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested January 29, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   Ann Daley, HEC Board; Chris McElroy, SPI; Judy McNickle, WWU