AN ACT
Relating to academic, vocational, and technological education; adding new
sections to chapter 28A.630 RCW; creating a new section; providing an
expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)
The legislature finds that improving the quality of education is essential to
improving the ability of students to prosper in a changing work force. Today's
employers have a tremendous need for technically skilled people whether they
are graduating from high school, a community college, a four-year university,
or a technical college.
(2)
The legislature further finds that student motivation can be greatly increased
by demonstration of practical application of course work content and relevancy
to student career interests.
(3)
The legislature further finds that our rapidly changing work force demands
improving basic competencies and skills by challenging and motivating our
students to compete in a global economy.
(4)
The legislature further finds that students should have access to both academic
and vocational education in accordance with their interests, needs, and
abilities. The elimination of rigid tracking into educational programs will
increase students post high school options and expose students to a wide range
of vocational and academic opportunities.
(5)
The purpose of sections 2 through 12 of this act is to equip students with increased
academic and vocational education opportunities through the establishment of
academic and vocational integration development projects geographically
distributed throughout the state.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. There
is established in the office of the superintendent of public instruction an
academic and vocational integration development program which shall fund and
coordinate pilot projects to develop model secondary school projects. The
projects shall combine academic and vocational education into a single
instructional system that is responsive to the educational needs of all
students in secondary schools. Goals of the projects within the program shall
include at a minimum:
(1)
Integration of vocational and academic instructional curriculum into a single
curriculum;
(2)
Emphasis on increased vocational, personal, and academic guidance and
counseling for students as an essential component of the student's high school
experience;
(3)
Active participation of educators in the planning, implementation, and
operation of the project, including increased opportunities for professional
development and in-service training; and
(4)
Active participation by employers, private and public community service
providers, parents, and community members in the development and operation of
the project.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. The
superintendent of public instruction shall develop a process for schools or
school districts to apply to participate in the academic and vocational
integration development program. The office of the superintendent of public
instruction shall review and select projects for grant awards, and monitor and
evaluate the academic and vocational integration development program.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. The
superintendent of public instruction shall appoint a ten-member task force on
academic and vocational integration. The task force shall include at least one
representative from the work force training and education coordinating board.
The task force shall advise the superintendent of public instruction in the
development of the process for applying to participate in the academic and
vocational integration development program, in the review and selection of
projects under section 3 of this act, and the monitoring and evaluation of the
projects.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. Initial
applications to participate in the academic and vocational integration
development program shall be submitted by the school district board of
directors to the superintendent of public instruction not later than June 1,
1992. Subject to available funding, additional applications may be submitted
for consideration by November 1 of subsequent years. The superintendent of
public instruction shall distribute the initial award grants by July 30, 1992.
The initial academic and vocational integration development projects shall
commence with the 1992-93 school year. Each application shall include a
proposed plan that:
(1)
Enumerates specific activities to be carried out as part of the pilot school's
project;
(2)
Commits all parties to work cooperatively during the term of the pilot project;
(3)
Includes budget plans for the project and additional anticipated sources of
funding, including private grants and contributions, if any;
(4)
Identifies the evaluation and accountability processes to be used to measure
school-wide student and project performance;
(5)
Identifies and justifies any request for waiver of specific state statutes or
administrative rules;
(6)
Includes a written statement that school directors and administrators are
willing to exempt the school or schools from specifically identified local
rules, as needed;
(7)
Includes a written statement that the school directors and the local bargaining
agents will modify those portions of their local agreements as applicable for
the schools' projects; and
(8)
Includes evidence that the school district employs a certified vocational
education administrator.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. (1)
The superintendent of public instruction shall administer sections 1 through 12
of this act.
(2)
The academic and vocational integration development projects may be conducted
for up to six years, if funds are provided.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 7. (1)
The superintendent of public instruction may accept, receive, and administer
for the purposes of sections 1 through 12 of this act such gifts, grants, and
contributions as may be provided from public and private sources for the
purposes of sections 1 through 12 of this act.
(2)
The academic and vocational integration development program account is hereby
established in the custody of the state treasurer. The superintendent of
public instruction shall deposit in the account all moneys received under this
section. Moneys in the account may be spent only for the purposes of sections
1 through 12 of this act. Disbursements from this account shall be on the
authorization of the superintendent of public instruction or the
superintendent's designee. The account is subject to the allotment procedure
provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for
disbursements.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 8. (1)
The state board of education, where appropriate, or the superintendent of
public instruction, where appropriate, may grant waivers to pilot project
districts consistent with law if necessary to implement a pilot project
proposal.
(2)
State rules dealing with public health, safety, and civil rights, including
accessibility by the handicapped, shall not be waived. A school district may
request the state board of education or the superintendent of public instruction
to ask the United States department of education or other federal agencies to
waive certain federal regulations necessary to fully implement the proposed
pilot project.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 9. (1)
The superintendent of public instruction, in coordination with the state board
for community and technical colleges, the work force training and education
coordinating board, and the higher education coordinating board, shall provide
technical assistance to selected schools and shall develop a process that
coordinates and facilitates linkages among participating school districts,
technical colleges, and colleges and universities.
(2)
The superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education may
adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary to implement its duties under
sections 1 through 12 of this act.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 10. (1)
The superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature on the
progress of the schools for the academic and vocational integration development
program by December 15 of each odd-numbered year.
(2)
Each school district selected to participate in the academic and vocational
integration development program shall submit an annual report to the superintendent
of public instruction on the progress of the pilot project as a condition of
receipt of continued funding.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 11. The
superintendent of public instruction, through the state clearinghouse for education
information, shall collect and disseminate to all school districts and other
interested parties information about the academic and vocational integration
development pilot projects.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections
1 through 12 of this act may be known and cited as the academic and vocational
integration development program.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 13. Sections
1 through 12 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.630 RCW.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 14. Sections
1 through 12 of this act shall expire June 30, 1999.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 15. If any
provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 16. If any
part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are
a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the
conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the
conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding
does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application
to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal
requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by
the state.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 17. 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 immediately.
