SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6366

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 4, 1992

Brief Description:  Creating the planning for learning project.

SPONSORS: Senators Pelz, Bailey, Erwin, Craswell, Rinehart, Murray and A. Smith

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6366 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Erwin, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Metcalf, Murray, Oke, Pelz, Rinehart, A. Smith, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates: January 28, 1992; February 4, 1992

BACKGROUND:

An increasing number of children will be entering the school system who were exposed to drugs or alcohol prenatally.  In a study prepared by the Washington Institute for Public Policy in April of 1991, Drug-exposed Infants in Washington State: Estimating the Incidence, the estimates of drug exposed infants born to women in the general population ranged from 4 percent to 20 percent and when alcohol was included as a drug, the estimates of exposed infants ranged from 18 percent to more than 50 percent.

Many experts have found that these children are biologically at risk due to the prenatal drug or alcohol exposure.  Educators and researchers are finding that effective teaching and learning strategies can help these children succeed in school.  

SUMMARY:

The Planning for Learning Project is created.  One of the goals of the project is to create a report that can be used by educators on what is known about effective teaching practices for elementary age school children who are at risk due to prenatal drug or alcohol exposure.

Funds are appropriated to the alcohol and drug unit of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science in the University of Washington School of Medicine to conduct the study and report to the Legislature and the Superintendent of Public Instruction by December 15, 1992.  The project will compile and analyze existing research on effective teaching and learning strategies, develop recommendations for further research, and develop policy recommendations.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Collaboration is required of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and school districts in developing the project and recommendations.

Appropriation:  $45,000

Revenue:  none 

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

It is difficult to teach children who were exposed to drugs or alcohol prenatally.  However, effective teaching strategies exist, can be developed, and will make a real difference to the lives of these children.  This type of project will place our state in a leadership role.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Senator Pelz, prime sponsor; Dr. Ann Streissguth, University of Washington; Donna Burgess, University of Washington; Rebecca Bangsurd, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Task Force; Sandra Randels, Department of Health; Victoria McKinney, Linda Belle La Fever, Delinda McCann, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Task Force