HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1600

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 House Committee On:

Education

Title: An act relating to increasing the career and college readiness of public school students.

Brief Description: Increasing the career and college readiness of public school students.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Santos, Pettigrew, Harris, Young, Stonier, Pike, Appleton, Johnson, Fey, Bergquist, Hudgins, Kraft, Slatter and Tarleton).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 2/6/17, 2/16/17 [DPS], 1/9/18, 1/18/18 [DP2S];

Appropriations: 2/23/17, 2/24/17 [DPS(ED)].

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

  • Establishes the Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (Initiative) to promote work-integrated learning experiences for students through programs at schools selected to participate in the Initiative.

  • Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to contract with a qualifying statewide nonprofit organization to establish a matching grant program to fund projects implemented at schools selected to participate in the Initiative.

  • Establishes duties and reporting requirements for schools selected to participate in the Initiative.

  • Directs the OSPI to convene a Work-Integrated Learning Advisory Committee and establishes related membership provisions and duties.

  • Directs the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to review and analyze data and reports created by schools selected to participate in the Initiative.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Hargrove, Johnson, Kilduff, Lovick, McCaslin, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Slatter, Steele, Stokesbary, Valdez and Volz.

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

In addition to its constitutional charge of supervising all matters pertaining to public schools, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and its office has numerous and broad responsibilities prescribed in statute, including:

Career and Technical Education.

As defined in statute, "career and technical education," or CTE, is a planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options and supports basic academic and life skills. State law specifies that CTE enables the achievement of high academic standards, leadership, options for high skill, high wage employment preparation, and advanced and continuing education.

Center for the Improvement of Student Learning.

The Center for the Improvement of Student Learning (CISL), housed at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), serves as a clearinghouse for information, promising practices, and research that promotes and supports effective learning environments for all students, especially those in underserved communities. The duties of the CISL are contingent on funds appropriated for the purpose.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) conducts nonpartisan research at the direction of the Legislature using its own policy analysts and economists, specialists from universities, and consultants. The WSIPP is governed by a board of directors that represents the Legislature, the Governor, and public universities. Fiscal and administrative services for the WSIPP are provided by The Evergreen State College.

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Summary of Second Substitute Bill:

Work-Integrated Learning Initiative.

To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (Initiative) is established. The purpose of the Initiative is to promote work-integrated learning experiences for students by providing:

"Work-integrated learning" is defined to include early, frequent, and systematic learning experiences that are essential for preparing Washington youth for high-demand, family-wage jobs in Washington, and that engage students in grades 5 through 12 or through high school dropout reengagement plans.

Applicant schools receiving funding through participation in the Initiative must meet specified requirements, including:

Matching Grant Program.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the OSPI must contract with a statewide nonprofit organization with expertise in promoting and supporting work-integrated learning from early learning through postsecondary education to establish a matching grant program to fund projects implemented by schools selected to participate in the Initiative.

The matching grant program must include the following minimum requirements for the schools:

Grant funds awarded through the program may be expended only to the extent that they are equally matched by private sector cash contributions for the program. Also, by November 15, 2020, and yearly thereafter, the OSPI must provide an evaluation to the Governor and the education and economic development committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Work-Integrated Learning Advisory Committee.

The SPI, in consultation with the Employment Security Department and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board), must convene a Work-Integrated Learning Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) to provide advice to the Legislature and the education and workforce sectors on creating opportunities for students to: explore and understand a wide range of career-related opportunities through applied learning; engage with industry mentors; and plan for career and college success.

The chair or co-chairs of the Advisory Committee must be selected by its members, and staff support must be provided by the OSPI.

The Advisory Committee is tasked with:

The Advisory Committee must, at a minimum, be composed of the following members:

In addition, the Advisory Committee must convene a subcommittee that includes members representing manufacturing, industry, labor, apprenticeships and other members with specialized expertise.

Review and Analysis Duties.

To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the CISL and the WSIPP must jointly review and analyze the reports and data submitted by schools selected to participate in the Initiative to evaluate their work-integrated learning project programs. The evaluation must determine:

The evaluation must be completed with sufficient time for the Advisory Committee to review the results and incorporate any provisions into its findings and recommendations.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The substitute bill makes the following changes to the original bill:

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Second 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) This bill is the culmination of good ideas that come from all parts of Washington, including a partnership that exists in southwest Washington.  The federal Manpower Act gave young people a chance to visit workplaces and to explore career opportunities, but today's youth do not have the same opportunities.  Some students, including those at Aviation High School, have impactful learning experiences.  This bill attempts to seed these types of work-integrated learning opportunities, building on the work of the Governor and bringing back to the House Education Committee lessons that it might use to give every student an outside mentor and a work-integrated learning opportunity.

The bill and the concept of work-integrated learning should be supported.  A recent report from the SBE encouraged exploring career integrated learning.  The SBE should be added to the Advisory Committee established in the bill.

The concepts in the bill and the ability to advance work-integrated learning deserve support, but some duties should be shifted to the OSPI. Stakeholders look forward to supporting the bill, reviewing the amendment, and synergizing the ideas to deliver engaging K-12 education.

A network of career-connected learning supporters are ready to support the concept, but they have needed a policy infrastructure to properly advance their efforts.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Santos, prime sponsor; Randy Spaulding, State Board of Education; Rebecca Wallace, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Tim Knue, Washington Association of Career and Technical Education; and Eleni Papadakis, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.