SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6551

    AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 4, 1994

Brief Description:  Establishing grants for extended day school‑to‑work transition projects.

SPONSORS: Senator Erwin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Pelz, Chairman; McAuliffe, Vice Chairman; Hochstatter, McDonald, Moyer, Nelson, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Skratek and Winsley.

Staff:  Larry Davis (786‑7422)

Hearing Dates: February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

There are eight vocational skills centers in the state (Vancouver, Bremerton, Tumwater, SeaTac, Everett, Spokane, Kennewick, and Yakima) that provide technical/vocational education programs and basic skills and job readiness training to high school students.  The centers are used primarily during the morning and early afternoon and are at or near capacity during the school day, but underutilized or idle during the late afternoon and evening.

In 1991, the Legislature funded four projects under an Academic and Vocational Integration Development Program.  The program was established in statute the following year.  In 1993, the program was renamed the School-To-Work Transitions Program and funding was increased to expand the number of projects.  Among the 27 new projects, the skill centers in Tumwater, Yakima, and Vancouver are direct grant recipients or grant participants.

SUMMARY:

An extended day school-to-work transition program is created in the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The program is to fund and coordinate five projects at vocational skills centers to provide extended day school-to-work transition options for students who have dropped out, who are at risk of academic failure, and for students enrolled full time at a home high school.

Six program goals are identified and grants must be awarded by the state Superintendent based on how the applications describe how the project will achieve the goals.

The extended day school-to-work transition program expires June 30, 1997.

Appropriation:  $350,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested February 1, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

There is a need to provide alternatives to kids at risk of dropping out or who have dropped out.  The bill is timely given the legislative focus on youth crime and the bill promotes expanded use of existing facilities.  The need for this kind of program is great.  The bill offers a strategy of providing a second chance to students.  It helps students learn the skills to take responsibility for organizing their lives and taking care of themselves.  The bill is an excellent community outreach and dropout retrieval program and helps young people reconnect to school and to work.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Senator Tim Erwin; James Taylor, Director, New Market Vocational Skills Center; Stephen Barnes, New Market student; Susan Patrick, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Kathleen Lopp, Washington Vocational Association