SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5303

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 3, 2015

Ways & Means, February 27, 2015

Title: An act relating to creating the Washington academic, innovation, and mentoring program.

Brief Description: Creating the Washington academic, innovation, and mentoring (AIM) program.

Sponsors: Senators Litzow, Frockt, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/27/15, 2/03/15 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 2/26/15, 2/27/15 [DPS, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

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

Signed by Senators Litzow, Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; McAuliffe, Ranking Member; Billig, Fain, Hill, Mullet, Rivers and Rolfes.

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5303 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hill, Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Hargrove, Ranking Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Member on the Capital Budget; Ranker, Ranking Minority Member, Operating; Bailey, Becker, Billig, Brown, Conway, Fraser, Hasegawa, Hatfield, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, O'Ban, Padden, Parlette, Rolfes, Schoesler and Warnick.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Braun, Vice Chair.

Staff: Lorrell Noahr (786-7708)

Background: In 2014 the Legislature defined expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) as school-based programs or community-based programs provided in partnership with schools, that provide extended learning and enrichment for students beyond the traditional school day, week, or calendar. Additionally an ELO Council was established to provide guidance for a statewide ELO system.

The United States Internal Revenue Code exempts nonprofit organizations from some federal income taxes when the organization's purpose is charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.

A congressional charter is a law passed by the United States Congress that states the mission, authority, and activities of a patriotic, charitable, historical, educational or other group. However, Congress does not oversee or supervise organizations with such a charter. There are over 90 organizations with a congressional charter including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club of America, Disabled American Veterans, Girls Scouts of the United States of America, Little League Baseball, the National Education Association of the United States, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is a categorical basic education funding provided for intensive academic support for reading, writing, and math, or the readiness to learn these core subjects. Allowable uses of LAP funding include extended learning time occurring before or after the regular school day, on Saturday, or beyond the regular school year. Up to 5 percent of a district's LAP allocation may be used for development of partnerships with community-based organizations, educational service districts, and other local agencies to deliver academic and nonacademic supports to participating students who are significantly at risk of not being successful in school to reduce barriers to learning, increase student engagement, and enhance students' readiness to learn. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction must approve any community-based organization or local agency before learning assistance funds may be expended.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The Washington academic innovation and mentoring (AIM) program is created to enable eligible entities to provide out-of-school programs for youth who are six to eighteen years of age. An eligible entity is a nonprofit corporation that has federal tax exempt status, is affiliated with a congressionally chartered organization, and meets other specified criteria, including provides after school and summer programs in communities statewide.

The out-of-school programs provided include educational services, mentoring and linkages to positive, prosocial leisure, and recreational activities. The programs must include at least two of the following activity areas:

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers the AIM program. No more than 4 percent of the funding provided may be used for administrative purposes. The goal is to provide the program in communities statewide. Sixty percent or more of the participants must qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch. Each entity funded must report to Commerce the number of youth served, the types of services provided, and the resulting outcomes.

State funding provided for LAP for school district partnerships with community-based organizations is allowable for the activities described in the grant program.

This bill contains a null and void clause.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): The requirement to provide a specific number of grants statewide is eliminated. Clarification is added that state funding provided for LAP for school district partnerships with community-based organizations is allowable for the activities described in the grant program. A null and void clause to the act is added.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Expanded learning is an important strategy for improving the academic achievement of our students and closing the achievement gap. The Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and other community-based organizations have already established partnerships with schools in many counties of the state to provide after school and summer programs where students can learn and play in a safe environment. These programs are effective strategies for combating summer learning loss, which research shows is a big part of the achievement gap, especially for low-income youth whose family do not have the resources to provide access to summer academic learning programs. These programs to align with recommendations in the first report of the ELO Council issued this year. We do suggest that the outcomes of the programs that are to be measured should be defined so they can be comparable.

Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Senator Litzow, prime sponsor; Mark Starnes, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound; Jerry Bender, Assn. of WA School Principals; Doug Hostetter, Director of Secondary Education, Tacoma Public Schools; Jack Archer, State Board of Education; Matt Watrous, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of WA; Natasha Babayan, Boys & Girls Club.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Ways & Means): PRO: The grants created by this bill will allow the state the opportunity to leverage services provided by these organizations to increase student achievement and to close the education opportunity gap. In the prior year, a pilot of this program with 46 third and fourth-grade students showed no less than one month of achievement.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Vicki Christophersen, WA Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs.