5402-S

AN ACT Relating to literacy in mathematics, science, and technology; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds:

(a) Mathematics, science, and technology subtly but profoundly impact the lives of Washington state residents. In the coming years mathematics, science, and technology will become socially pervasive and important with growing concerns about health, environmental protection, conservation, energy supply, and industrial growth;

(b) There is consensus that the most likely leading industries in the twenty‑first century will be in microelectronics, biotechnology, new materials industries, civilian aviation, telecommunications, robotics, and computer-related technologies. This means that literacy in mathematics, science, and technology will become increasingly important to the economic future of Washington state; and

(c) National education goal number four establishes that by the year 2000, United States students will be first in the world in science and mathematics achievement.

(2) The legislature recognizes that change is not optional and believes that only if literacy in mathematics, science, and technology is expanded to include all segments of the population can Washington state build upon existing public and private sector resources to take full advantage of the projected leading industries for the twenty‑first century and achieve national education goal number four.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature to develop a long‑range, comprehensive mathematics, science, and technology literacy program that reaches into all segments of society and supports a vision in which Washington state is a place where all citizens demonstrate, value, and support literacy in mathematics, science, and technology.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct a study that includes, in priority order, but is not limited to:

(1) A review of existing or anticipated efforts in Washington state pertaining to enhancing the quality of mathematics, science, and technology instruction in the common schools and higher education institutions of the state. This review shall include development of recommendations to the legislature, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, and the higher education coordinating board on requiring or otherwise assuring that the curriculum of the common schools and the programs leading to teacher certification include instruction in mathematics, science, and technology in a manner that increases literacy in these subjects;

(2) An analysis of the benefits and disadvantages to the state of achieving or not achieving broad social literacy in mathematics, science, and technology;

(3) An analysis of the feasibility and desirability of creating a Washington state institute for science and technology that would promote broad‑based awareness and understanding of the importance of mathematics, science, and technology in our lives and support the implementation of a long‑range, comprehensive mathematics, science, and technology literacy program;

(4) The analysis under subsection (3) of this section shall include:

(a) An assessment of whether a state institute for science and technology is an appropriate means toward building and sustaining a social culture of awareness, appreciation, understanding, and support for mathematics, science, and technology education and literacy;

(b) An assessment of the kind of mission and focus that would guide a state institute for science and technology, including groups for priority attention and appropriate programs, services, and activities;

(c) Options pertaining to a governmental structure for and location of a state institute for science and technology including options for having an existing agency or institution carry out the identified purposes of such institute; and

(d) Options for funding a state institute for science and technology.

(5) The study shall include an analysis of the feasibility and desirability of:

(a) Creating a science academy as part of or complementary to the establishment of a state institute for science and technology; and

(b) Creating as part of or complementary to the establishment of a state institute for science and technology a state office of technology assessment to respond to requests from state agencies, the legislature, or K‑12 and higher education professionals with accurate, up‑to‑date, understandable information relative to current issues involving mathematics, science, and technology.

(6) The institute for public policy shall submit a report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the legislature and the governor not later than December 1, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The Washington state institute for public policy may receive, and is encouraged to solicit, donations of funds from private and governmental sources to help defray the cost of performing the study required by section 2 of this act.