HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1256

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to school-business partnerships.

Brief Description:  Allowing teachers continuing education credit for internships with private and public sector organizations.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Jones, Peery, Miller, Cole, G. Fisher, Ebersole, Holland, H. Myers, Roland, Hine, Winsley, Forner, Riley, Basich and Inslee.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 11, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1256 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Broback; Brumsickle; Cole; Dorn; P. Johnson; Jones; Neher; Orr; Phillips; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle.

Staff:  Bob Butts (786-7111).

Background:  A growing number of educators, members of the business community, and policy makers are recognizing the benefits of a stronger relationship between the business community and schools.  It is also recognized by many that the linkage between academic instruction and workplace skills needs to be strengthened.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Internships

Certificated instructional staff who complete internships with private and public sector organizations are eligible to receive continuing education credit.  The credit may be awarded by the superintendent of the employee's school district.

To be eligible for continuing education credit, employees must demonstrate that the internship is directly related to their current teaching assignment, or to their assignment for the following year.

Credit earned by completing internships shall be used to meet any applicable teacher continuing education requirements and for state salary allocation purposes.

The equivalent of one college quarter credit shall be awarded for each 50 hours that the certificated instructional staff participates in an internship.  An individual may not receive more than the equivalent of 15 college quarter credits for internships during a five calendar-year period.

School-Business Education Partnerships

The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in coordination with state-wide organizations that promote business involvement in the common schools, shall conduct a symposium on school-business education partnerships.  The symposium shall be to assist educators, businesses, and other organizations in forming partnerships.  The symposium shall be conducted before December 31, 1992.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute clarifies that school districts will not be granting college credit, and reduces the number of credits that may be earned for each hour of the internship so that the bill will be consistent with current community college practice.  In addition, the substitute removes a $35,000 appropriation.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Appropriation:  Removed.

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

Testimony For:  The internship program will increase the interaction between teachers and businesses.  For example, it will provide an incentive for journalism teachers to spend summers as newspaper reporters.  In addition, the school/business partnership symposium will increase the awareness of existing partnerships and promote the creation of new ones.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Karen Smitherman, Tacoma Public Schools (in favor); and Gary Tollefson, Washington PTA (in favor).