Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1313

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes the Applied Learning Advisory Committee (Committee) to provide guidance to legislators, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), the Governor, and other policymakers on the improvement and expansion of applied learning opportunities in public schools.
Specifies that the Committee is to be chaired by the SPI and staffed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Specifies the composition of the Committee and requires it to produce reports of findings and recommendations each even-numbered year.

Background:

According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), work-based learning activities that apply education and skills to real employment opportunities provide extended learning experiences that connect acquired knowledge and skills to a student’s future.

Washington's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Standards require work-based learning as a component of all CTE programs. The 2012 Worksite Learning Manual of the OSPI, indicates that work-based learning is an essential element of the total educational system and that it provides the technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in specific occupations and careers.

Work-based learning may comprise a wide range of activities in school programs and may include in-person activities and activities engaged in through electronic means.

Summary of Bill:

The Applied Learning Advisory Committee (Committee) is established to provide guidance to legislators, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), the Governor, and other policymakers on the improvement and expansion of applied learning opportunities in public schools.

The Committee is charged with examining applied learning programs operating in the state, inventorying these programs, and reviewing best practices. The Committee also must:

examine career opportunities through applied learning opportunities;
examine methods for partnering, or expanding partnerships with industry for internships, the provision of equipment, and related public-private partnerships; and
develop, and periodically update, a coordinated plan for the statewide integration of applied learning opportunities into all public elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

Membership and governance provisions for the Committee are established. The Committee is to consist of:

the SPI or the Superintendent's designee;
the Governor or the Governor's designee;
the chairs and ranking minority members of the House of Representatives and Senate education committees or their designees;
the Chair of the State Board of Education or the Chair's designee;
the Chair of the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) or the Chair's designee;
a member of the Student Achievement Council, or a designee of the Council;
the Chair of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges or the Chair's designee; and
the Chair of the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee or the Chair's designee.

The Committee must also include:

one member each appointed by the SPI from associations representing: career and technical education; teachers; school administrators; principals; and school directors; and
four members appointed jointly by the Chair of the Workforce Board and the SPI representing building and trades organizations and industrial manufacturers.

The SPI or the superintendent's designee is to chair the Committee, and all members of the Committee must be voting members.

Staff support for the Committee must be provided by the OSPI.

The Committee must report its finding and recommendations to the Governor and the education committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate by June 30th in each even-numbered year.