H-1508

AN ACT Relating to vocational and applied technology education; adding new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.630 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; making appropriations; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint a vocational education task force. The task force shall develop the process and review and select a state vocational education center under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a state vocational education center to provide teacher preparation and in-service opportunities for vocational education instructors, to provide technical assistance to improve curriculum design and instruction in vocational education programs, and to design research and evaluation models to assist in vocational education program development.

(2) The responsibilities of the state vocational education center shall include at a minimum:

(a) Assist in the coordination of services offered at the five university teacher preparation/vocational education programs and one state teacher training program;

(b) Employ a faculty of instructors and administrators from secondary schools, skill centers, vocational-technical institutes, community colleges, private business, and labor representatives to provide teaching, research, and curriculum development services;

(c) Provide educational opportunities throughout the state at private and business sites that have state of the industry facilities and equipment;

(d) Design competency and outcome-based education models for use in developing vocational education programs;

(e) Design curriculum and instruction models to serve the learning styles of a diverse student population;

(f) Design and implement research and evaluation models to meet the educational and vocational needs of schools, communities, and businesses; and

(g) Provide vocational education services throughout the state by developing a process for flexible, mobile delivery of services listed in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.630 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The legislature finds that school districts may provide vocational education programs for students more effectively through cooperatives using existing district facilities, facilities at work sites, and facilities including but not limited to mobile instructional units, distance learning, and computers, without the need to construct separate facilities. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage such cooperatives among school districts as demonstration projects.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a grant award program to establish demonstration vocational cooperatives for the purposes of subsections (1) through (7) of this section. Grants may be awarded for not more than three projects. The cooperatives approved should include projects in urban and rural areas and districts of varying characteristics and size.

(3) Initial applications to participate in the demonstration vocational cooperative program shall be submitted to the superintendent of public instruction not later than January 30, 1992. Each application shall contain a proposed plan that:

(a) Explains how the plan meets the criteria;

(b) Describes specific activities to be carried out;

(d) Includes a copy of the agreement for joint cooperative action under chapter 39.34 RCW.

(4) The superintendent shall administer subsections (1) through (7) of this section subject to legislative appropriation for this purpose. The superintendent shall approve requests based on criteria established by the superintendent and notify districts of grant awards by April 30, 1992. The demonstration vocational cooperative projects shall begin with the 1992-93 school year. The grant awards may be continued for up to five years if funds are available.

(5) The superintendent shall base grant awards for the demonstration vocational cooperatives on an allocation that includes:

(a) The same amount as would be allocated under RCW 28A.150.260 for a skill center with the same full-time equivalent enrollment; and

(b) An amount to compensate the serving district for the cost to administer the cooperatives pursuant to standards established by the superintendent.

(6) Following the completion of each year of operation, each demonstration vocational cooperative shall submit an evaluation of the cooperative program to the superintendent in accordance with the requirements of the superintendent. By July 1, 1994, the superintendent shall submit a report to the education committees and the economic development committees of the house of representatives and the senate including the cooperative evaluations and recommendations concerning the continuation of this program.

(7) The superintendent shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW necessary to implement the superintendent's duties under subsections (1) through (6) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:

Commencing with the 1991-92 school year, the formula adopted by the legislature under RCW 28A.150.260 shall include a ratio of ninety-two one-hundredths certificated instructional staff and eight one-hundredths certificated administrative staff to sixteen and sixty-seven one-hundredths annual average full-time equivalent students in grades nine through twelve enrolled in vocational education programs approved by the superintendent of public instruction. However, any increase in funds generated by the change in the ratio of certificated personnel to annual average full-time equivalent vocational education students shall be used by local school districts to provide additional state support for their vocational education programs commencing with the 1991-92 school year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 2 of this act for the biennium ending June 30, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 3 of this act for the biennium ending June 30, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The sum of four million eight hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 4 of this act for the biennium ending June 30, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of seven million two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purchase of new and replacement vocational education equipment for use solely in approved vocational-secondary and skill center programs to be distributed at a rate of one hundred dollars per student for a maximum of thirty-six thousand full-time equivalent students for the 1991-92 and 1992-93 school years for the biennium ending June 30, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of two million four hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of funding evening and weekend vocational programs at skills centers for three hundred fifty full-time equivalent students for the 1991-92 and 1992-93 school years for the biennium ending June 30, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991.