AN ACT Relating to
school-to-work transitions; amending RCW 28A.630.862, 28A.630.864, 28A.630.866,
28A.630.868, 28A.630.870, 28A.630.874, 28A.630.876, 28A.630.878, and
28A.630.880; adding a new section to chapter 28A.630 RCW; creating new
sections; repealing RCW 28A.630.860; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. (1) The legislature finds
that demonstrated relevancy and practical application of school work is essential
to improving student learning and to increasing the ability of students to
transition successfully to the world of work. Employers have an increasing
need for highly 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 the school experience must prepare students to make informed
career direction decisions at appropriate intervals in their educational
progress. The elimination of rigid tracking into educational programs will
increase students' posthigh school options and will expose students to a broad
range of interrelated career and educational opportunities.
(3) The legislature
further finds that student motivation and performance can be greatly increased
by the demonstration of practical application of course work content and its
relevancy to potential career directions.
(4) The legislature
further finds that secondary schools should provide students with multiple,
flexible educational pathways. Each educational pathway should:
(a) Prepare students to
demonstrate both core competencies common for all students and competencies in
a career or interest area;
(b) Integrate academic
and vocational education into a single curriculum; and
(c) Provide both
classroom and workplace experience.
(5) The purpose of RCW
28A.630.862 through 28A.630.880 and section 11 of this act is to equip students
with improved school-to-work transition opportunities through the establishment
of school-to-work transition model projects throughout the state.
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.630.862 and 1992
c 137 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
There is established in
the office of the superintendent of public instruction ((an academic and
vocational integration development)) a school-to-work transitions
program which shall fund and coordinate ((pilot)) projects to develop
model secondary school ((projects)) programs. 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 and shall provide multiple educational pathway options for all
secondary students. 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) Providing each
student with a choice of multiple, flexible educational pathways based on the
student's career or interest area;
(3) Emphasis on
increased vocational((, personal,)) and academic guidance and counseling
for students as an essential component of the student's high school experience;
(((3))) (4)
Development of student essential academic learning requirements, methods of
accurately measuring student performance, and goals for improved student
learning;
(5) Partnership with
local employers and employees to incorporate work sites as part of work-based
learning experiences;
(6) 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))) (7)
Active participation by employers, private and public community service
providers, parents, and community members in the development and operation of
the project.
Sec. 3. RCW 28A.630.864 and 1992
c 137 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) 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)) school-to-work transitions 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.
(2) The
superintendent of public instruction, in selecting projects for grant awards,
shall give additional consideration to schools or school districts whose
proposals include collaboration with middle schools or junior high schools to
develop school-to-work transition objectives. Middle school or junior high
school programs may include career awareness and exploration, preparation for
school-to-school transition, and preparation for educational pathway decisions.
(3) The
superintendent of public instruction, in selecting projects for grant awards,
shall give additional consideration to schools or school districts whose
proposals include a tech prep site selected under P.L. 101-392 or other
articulation agreements with a community or technical college.
(4) The
superintendent of public instruction, in selecting projects for grant awards,
shall give additional consideration to schools or school districts whose
proposals include the following elements: Paid student employment in an
occupational area with growing labor market demand, instruction on the job from
a mentor, demonstration of competency standards for program completion, and a
contract to be signed by the participating student, the student's parent or
legal guardian, the participating employer, and an education representative.
(5) The
superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education may
develop a process for teacher preparation programs to apply to participate in
the school-to-work transitions program. The office of the superintendent of
public instruction and the state board of education may review and select
projects for grant awards. Teacher preparation grants shall be used to improve
teacher preparation in school-to-work transitions, including course work
related to integrated curriculum, tech prep concepts, updating technical
skills, improving school and private sector partnerships, and assessing
students.
Sec. 4. RCW 28A.630.866 and 1992
c 137 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
The superintendent of
public instruction shall appoint a ten-member task force on ((academic and
vocational integration)) school-to-work transitions. The task force
shall include at least one representative from the work force training and
education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical
colleges. 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)) school-to-work
transitions program, in the review and selection of projects under RCW
28A.630.864, and the monitoring and evaluation of the projects.
Sec. 5. RCW 28A.630.868 and 1992
c 137 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent
of public instruction shall administer RCW 28A.630.860 through RCW 28A.630.880.
(2) The ((academic
and vocational integration development)) school-to-work transitions
projects may be conducted for up to six years, if funds are provided.
Sec. 6. RCW 28A.630.870 and 1992
c 137 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent
of public instruction may accept, receive, and administer for the purposes of
RCW 28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880 such gifts, grants, and contributions as
may be provided from public and private sources for the purposes of RCW
28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880.
(2) The ((academic
and vocational integration development)) school-to-work transitions
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 28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880. 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.
Sec. 7. RCW 28A.630.874 and 1992
c 137 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent
of public instruction, in coordination with the state board of education,
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, secondary schools, junior high schools,
middle schools, 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 RCW 28A.630.860
through RCW 28A.630.880.
Sec. 8. RCW 28A.630.876 and 1992
c 137 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent
of public instruction shall report to the education committees of the
legislature on the progress of the schools for the ((academic and vocational
integration development)) school-to-work transitions 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.
Sec. 9. RCW 28A.630.878 and 1992
c 137 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
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)) school-to-work transitions projects.
Sec. 10. RCW 28A.630.880 and 1992
c 137 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
RCW 28A.630.860 through
28A.630.880 may be known and cited as the ((academic and vocational
integration development)) school-to-work transitions program.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
11. A new section is added
to chapter 28A.630 RCW to read as follows:
Unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout
RCW 28A.630.862 through 28A.630.880.
(1) "Integration
of vocational and academic instruction" means an educational program that
combines vocational and academic concepts into a single curriculum to increase
the relevancy of course work, to strengthen and increase academic standards,
and to enable students to apply knowledge and skills to career and educational
objectives.
(2)
"School-to-work transition" means a restructuring effort which
provides multiple learning options and seamless integrated pathways to increase
all students' opportunities to pursue their career and educational interests.
(3) "Work-based
learning" means a competency-based educational experience that coordinates
and integrates classroom instruction with structured, work site employment in
which the student receives occupational training that advances student
knowledge and skills in essential academic learning requirements.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
12. RCW 28A.630.860 and 1992
c 137 s 1 are each repealed.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
13. If specific funding for
the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided
by June 30, 1993, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 14. 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.
