SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1520

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Expanding the use of skill centers.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Holm, Brumsickle, Wolfe, Chappell, Sheldon, Romero, Dorn, Basich, Kessler, Jones, Zellinsky, Pruitt, Brough, Cothern, Riley, King, R. Meyers, Rayburn and Quall; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Pelz, Chairman; Gaspard, Hochstatter, McDonald, Moyer, Nelson, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Skratek, A. Smith, and Winsley.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786‑7439)

Hearing Dates: March 26, 1993; April 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Eight vocational skill centers have been established as interdistrict cooperatives to provide vocational training for high school students.  The skill centers are used primarily during the morning and early afternoon, and generally are idle during the late afternoon and evening.  Allowing the skill centers to operate during the late afternoon and evening would provide additional training opportunities for high school students, as well as adults, since community colleges have more individuals applying for admission than they can accommodate.

SUMMARY:

Two pilot programs designed to increase skill center course offerings in the late afternoon and evening, subject to funding, shall be administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is encouraged to provide funding for these pilot projects.

Community and technical college students may be served at skill centers under a cooperative agreement.  These students would not be included in the colleges' enrollment lid calculations.  The fees charged shall be established by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. 

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

Skill centers are encouraged to operate afternoon and evening programs.  Community colleges are encouraged to contract with skill centers to use skill center facilities.  Enrollments under such agreements are not required to count toward the community college enrollment lid.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Need to make better use of facilities.  Currently skill centers are used only in the morning and early afternoon.  There are high school students who would like to avail themselves of job skills training but prefer or need to take classes in the late afternoon or early evening.  This bill creates a win-win situation:  enhanced facility usage and instruction delivered at a time to meet unique student needs.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Kathleen Lopp, Vocational Education; Mourine Anduiza, Director, Kitsap Peninsula Skills Center; Tom Lopp, OSPI; Dave Habura, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges