HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2329

As Reported by House Committee On:

Higher Education

Title: An act relating to including certain residents who do not have a high school diploma or credential and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges in caseload forecast council forecasting.

Brief Description: Including certain residents who do not have a high school diploma or credential and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges in caseload forecast council forecasting.

Sponsors: Representatives Haler, Reykdal, Zeiger, Pettigrew, Kagi, Appleton, Jinkins, Pollet and McBride; by request of State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Higher Education: 1/12/16, 1/22/16 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Pollet, Vice Chair; Zeiger, Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Frame, Hargrove, Holy, Reykdal, Sells, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Van Werven.

Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).

Background:

Educational Attainment Goals.

In 2013 the Student Achievement Council established two educational attainment goals for 2023 that the Legislature adopted in 2014. Those goals are:

1. All adults in Washington, ages 25 to 44, will have a high school diploma or equivalent.

2. At least 70 percent of Washington adults, ages 25 to 44, will have a postsecondary credential.

Basic Education for Adults.

According to the Washington State Adult Education Plan, 10 percent of the population has less than a twelfth grade education and nearly half of those have less than a ninth grade education. The community and technical colleges (CTCs) are required under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and reauthorized under the Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act of 2014 to provide adult education for persons over the age of 16 who are not enrolled, or required to be enrolled, in secondary school under state law, and who:

• do not have a high school diploma or degree, or have not achieved an equivalent level of education;

• lack sufficient mastery of basic educational skills to function effectively in society; or

• are unable to speak, read, or write English.

Adult basic education instruction is designed to help an individual achieve mastery of skills in reading, writing, oral communication, and computation at a level sufficient to function effectively as a parent, worker, and citizen. It also includes English as a second language and preparation and testing services for a high school equivalency certificate. The basic education for adults programs offered at the CTCs include:

• Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language;

• Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST);

• English literacy and civics education;

• High School 21+;

• High School Equivalency;

• Integrated Digital English Acceleration (I-DEA);

• Volunteer Literacy Programs;

• Washington State College in Prisons; and

• WorkFirst.

The CTCs may waive all or a portion of tuition and services and activities fees for students 19 years of age or older who are eligible for resident tuition and are enrolled in a course or program to finish their high school education.

The Caseload Forecast Council.

The Caseload Forecast Council (Forecast Council) is in charge of overseeing the preparation and approval of the official state caseload forecasts. The Forecast Council estimates the number of persons expected to meet entitlement requirements and require the service of: public assistance programs; state correctional institutions; state correctional non institutional supervision; state institutions for juvenile offenders; the common school system; long-term care; medical assistance; foster care; and adoption support. It also forecasts the number of students eligible for the College Bound Scholarship who are expected to attend an institution of higher education.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Forecast Council is required to forecast the number of state residents, ages 25 to 44, who do not have a high school diploma or credential, and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges. To accomplish its duties, the Forecast Council may request data, information, and data processing assistance from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board) and the Education Data Center as needed without cost.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill adds that the Forecast Council may request data, information, and data processing assistance from the State Board and the Education Data Center to accomplish its duties as needed without cost.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Basic Education for Adults' mission is extremely important for the state's entire education system. Knowing how many adults need basic education would provide the state with a clearer picture of educational needs. It is also a start to getting more people educated to help meet the state's two educational attainment goals: (1) all adults in Washington, ages 25 to 44, will have a high school diploma or equivalent; and (2) at least 70 percent of Washington adults, ages 25 to 44, will have a postsecondary credential. According to census data, there are over 571,000 adults who are 18 years of age or older who do not have a high school diploma, and possibly more than 700,000 Washingtonians who lack the basic skills to pursue college and meet employers' needs. By 2030, the workforce need for trained employees with college credentials will increase by 60 percent, and Washington is going to have to fill that gap. This is data the community and technical college system needs to expand capacity, increase student success, and increase completion.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Arlen Harris and Jon Kerr, State Board of Community and Technical College; and Maddie Thompson, Washington Student Achievement Council.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.