S-0706

AN ACT Relating to Pacific Rim education programs; amending RCW 28B.107.010, 28B.107.030, 28B.107.040, 28B.107.050, 28A.630.320, 28A.630.340, and 28A.300.200; repealing RCW 28B.107.900 and 28A.405.020; and making appropriations.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28B.107.010 and 1990 c 243 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Washington state Pacific Rim language scholarship" means a scholarship awarded((,)) for ((~~a period not to exceed~~)) one year, and renewable for a period not to exceed four years, to a student proficient in speaking one of the following languages: Spanish, Russian, Chinese, ((~~and~~)) Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Thai, or Vietnamese.

(2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by an accrediting association recognized as such by rule of the higher education coordinating board.

(3) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.

(4) "Student" means a high school senior who is a proficient speaker of a Pacific Rim language, and who intends to enroll in an institution of higher education within one year of high school graduation.

Sec. 2. RCW 28B.107.030 and 1990 c 243 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board shall select up to ((~~four~~)) eight students yearly from each congressional district to receive ((a)) an initial Washington state Pacific Rim scholarship from funds appropriated for this purpose. Of the ((~~four~~)) eight students selected, one student shall be a proficient speaker of Spanish, one of Russian, one of Japanese, ((~~and~~)) one of Chinese, one of Khmer, one of Korean, one of Thai, and one of Vietnamese. If there are no qualified applicants for a particular scholarship, the board may select a student from qualified applicants in other languages or congressional districts.

(2) To be eligible for a scholarship, students shall have taken coursework in the language, or the culture or history related to the language, during their high school careers, or be native speakers of the language.

(3) Using measures as objective as possible, the board shall select students ((~~who have shown the most improvement in their ability to speak the language during their high school careers~~)) on the following criteria: Degree of oral proficiency in the Pacific Rim language; improvement in ability to speak the language during his or her high school career; and demonstrated potential to teach or otherwise use the language to enrich the state's cultural understanding or economic health.

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.107.040 and 1990 c 243 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Scholarships shall not exceed one thousand dollars per student per year. The scholarship shall not be disbursed to the student until the student is enrolled at an institution of higher education. The board may also use private donations or any other funds given to the board for this program to make additional scholarship awards. Funds shall be spent first for new scholarships. If funds are available after providing new scholarships, funds may be used to renew scholarships issued before or after the effective date of this section.

Sec. 4. RCW 28B.107.050 and 1990 c 243 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

By October 30, 1995, the board shall report on the progress of the program to the governor and the house of representatives and senate committees on higher education. ((~~The report shall include a recommendation on whether to expand the number of languages included, and whether to expand the program to students in each legislative district.~~))

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.630.320 and 1990 c 33 s 534 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction may grant funds to selected school districts for the purposes of developing and implementing international education programs. The grants shall be in such amounts as determined by the superintendent of public instruction. The sum of all grants awarded shall not exceed the amount appropriated by the legislature for such purposes.

(2) The grant program shall center on the use of the international education model curriculum or curriculum guidelines developed in RCW 28A.630.310. Districts may use the international education model curriculum or curriculum guidelines developed under RCW 28A.630.310 as a guideline for creating their own model curriculum for participation in the grant program.

(3) School districts may apply singularly or a group of school districts may apply together to participate in the program.

(4) School districts applying for the international education grant program shall submit a plan which includes:

(a) ((~~Participation by the school district in both the model curriculum or curriculum guidelines development activities and the grant program activities provided for by RCW 28A.630.300 through 28A.630.390~~)) Use of the curriculum guidelines developed under RCW 28A.630.310;

(b) ((~~The application or~~)) Intent to conduct a foreign language program including ((~~either Japanese or Mandarin Chinese~~)) at least two of the following languages: Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese, beginning in the ninth grade;

(d) A goal to enlist participation where possible by private enterprise, cultural and ethnic associations, foreign trade or policy organizations, the local community, exchange students and students who have participated in exchange programs, and parents;

(e) Evaluation of the pilot program.

(5) To the extent possible, selected school districts shall represent the various geographical locations, school or school district sizes, and grade levels in the state.

(6) By January 1, ((~~1988~~)) 1992, the superintendent of public instruction shall select five school district grantees for the program. The program shall be implemented beginning with the ((~~1988‑89~~)) 1992-93 school year.

(7) The program in international education shall be considered a social studies offering for the purpose of RCW 28A.230.090(1) and may also, if appropriate, be used to meet foreign language requirements.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.630.340 and 1987 c 349 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall submit a report to the legislature, including its findings and specific recommendations evaluating the progress of the grant program, by January 1, ((~~1991~~)) 1995.

Sec. 7. RCW 28A.300.200 and 1990 c 243 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

To complement RCW 28A.630.320 and chapter 28B.107 RCW, the superintendent of public instruction shall ((~~encourage school districts to establish exchange programs for teachers with~~)) coordinate and sponsor teacher exchanges between Washington schools and schools in Pacific Rim nations. The superintendent may solicit and accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the teacher exchange program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 28B.107.900 and 1990 c 243 s 8; and

(2) RCW 28A.405.020 and 1990 c 243 s 7, 1985 c 379 s 5, 1977 ex.s. c 340 s 1, & 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.67.020.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) The sum of two hundred fifty-two thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board for the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act.

(2) The sum of five hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of sections 5 and 6 of this act.

(a) Up to twenty-five thousand dollars of the appropriation in this subsection may be used for the international education grant program in section 5 of this act.

(b) Up to five hundred thousand dollars of the appropriation in this subsection may be used for the teacher exchange program in section 6 of this act.