S-4671.1                   _______________________________________________

 

                                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6170

                              _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

 

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Pelz and McDonald; by request of Department of Community Development)

 

Read first time 02/01/94.

 

Modifying the early childhood education and assistance program.



          AN ACT Relating to clarifying the statutory language governing the early childhood education and assistance program; amending RCW 28A.215.100, 28A.215.110, 28A.215.120, 28A.215.130, 28A.215.150, 28A.215.160, 28A.215.170, 28A.215.180, and 28A.215.200; amending 1988 c 174 s 1 (uncodified); amending 1987 c 518 s 1 (uncodified); and providing an effective date.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.215.100 and 1985 c 418 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

          It is the intent of the legislature to establish ((a preschool)) an early childhood state education and assistance program.  This special assistance program is a voluntary enrichment program to help prepare some children to enter the common school system and shall be offered only as funds are available.  This program is not a part of the basic program of education which must be fully funded by the legislature under Article IX, section 1 of the state Constitution.

 

        Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.215.110 and 1990 c 33 s 213 are each amended to read as follows:

          Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908.

          (1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW 28A.215.140.

          (2) (("At risk" means a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family circumstances would qualify that child for eligibility under the federal head start program.

          (3))) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

          (((4))) (3) "Eligible child" means ((an at-risk child as defined in this section)) a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family income is at or below one hundred percent of the federal poverty level, as published annually by the federal department of health and human services, and includes a child whose family is eligible for public assistance, and who is not a participant in a federal or state program providing ((like educational)) comprehensive services and may include children who are eligible under rules adopted by the department if the number of such children equals not more than ten percent of the total enrollment in the ((preschool)) early childhood program.  Priority for enrollment shall be given to children from families with the lowest income or to eligible children from families with multiple needs.

          (((5))) (4) "Approved ((preschool)) programs" means those state-supported education and special assistance programs which are recognized by the department of community, trade, and economic development as meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify under RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department under RCW 28A.215.160 and 28A.215.180.

          (5) "Comprehensive services" means an assistance program that focuses on the needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support services.

          (6) "Family support services" means providing opportunities for parents to:

          (a) Actively participate in their child's early childhood program;

          (b) Increase their knowledge of child development and parenting skills;

          (c) Further their education and training;

          (d) Increase their ability to use needed services in the community;

          (e) Increase their self-reliance.

 

        Sec. 3.  1988 c 174 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

          The legislature finds that the early childhood education and assistance program provides for the educational, social, health, nutritional, and cultural development of children at risk of failure when they reach school age.  The long-term benefits to society in the form of greater educational attainment, employment, and projected lifetime earnings as well as the savings to be realized, from lower crime rates, welfare support, and reduced teenage pregnancy, have been demonstrated through lifelong research of at-risk children and ((preschool)) early childhood programs.

          ((The legislature further finds that existing federal head start programs and state-supported early childhood education programs provide services for less than one-third of the eligible children in Washington.))

          The legislature intends to encourage development of community partnerships for children at risk by authorizing a program of voluntary grants and contributions from business and community organizations to increase opportunities for children to participate in early childhood education.

 

        Sec. 4.  RCW 28A.215.120 and 1988 c 174 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department of community, trade, and economic development shall administer a state-supported ((preschool)) early childhood education and assistance program to assist eligible children with educational, social, health, nutritional, and cultural development to enhance their opportunity for success in the common school system.  Eligible children shall be admitted to approved ((preschool)) early childhood programs to the extent that the legislature provides funds, and additional eligible children may be admitted to the extent that grants and contributions from community sources provide sufficient funds for a program equivalent to that supported by state funds.

 

        Sec. 5.  RCW 28A.215.130 and 1988 c 174 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

          Approved ((preschool)) early childhood programs shall receive state-funded support through the department.  ((School districts, and existing head start grantees in cooperation with school districts)) Public or private nonsectarian organizations, including, but not limited to school districts, educational service districts, community and technical colleges, local governments, or nonprofit organizations, are eligible to participate as providers of the state ((preschool)) early childhood program.  ((School districts may contract with other governmental or nongovernmental nonsectarian organizations to conduct a portion of the state program.))  Funds appropriated for the state program shall be used to continue to operate existing programs or to establish new or expanded ((preschool)) early childhood programs, and shall not be used to supplant federally supported head start programs.  Funds obtained by providers through voluntary grants or contributions from individuals, agencies, corporations, or organizations may be used to expand or enhance preschool programs so long as program standards established by the department are maintained, but shall not be used to supplant federally supported head start programs or state-supported ((preschool)) early childhood programs.  Persons applying to conduct the ((preschool)) early childhood program shall identify targeted groups and the number of children to be served, program components, the qualifications of instructional and special staff, the source and amount of grants or contributions from sources other than state funds, facilities and equipment support, and transportation and personal care arrangements.

 

        Sec. 6.  RCW 28A.215.150 and 1988 c 174 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW for the administration of the ((preschool)) early childhood program.  ((Federal head start program criteria, including set aside provisions for the)) Approved early childhood programs shall conduct needs assessments of their service area, identify any targeted groups of children, to include but not be limited to children of seasonal and migrant farmworkers and native American populations living either on or off reservation, ((to the extent practicable, shall be considered as guidelines for the state preschool early childhood assistance program)) and provide to the department a service delivery plan, to the extent practicable, that addresses these targeted populations.

          The department in developing rules for the ((preschool)) early childhood program shall consult with the advisory committee, and shall consider such factors as coordination with existing head start and other ((preschool)) early childhood programs, the preparation necessary for instructors, qualifications of instructors, adequate space and equipment, and special transportation needs.  The rules shall specifically require the ((preschool)) early childhood programs to provide for parental involvement ((at a level not less than that provided under the federal head start program criteria)) in participation with their child's program, in local program policy decisions, in development and revision of service delivery systems, and in parent education and training.

 

        Sec. 7.  1987 c 518 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

          The long-term social, community welfare, and economic interests of the state will be served by an investment in our children.  Conclusive studies and experiences show that providing children with ((certain)) developmental experiences and providing parents with effective parental ((guidance)) partnership, empowerment, opportunities for involvement with their child's developmental learning, and expanding parenting skills, learning, and training can greatly improve ((their)) children's performance in school as well as increase the likelihood of ((their)) children's success as adults.  National studies have also confirmed that special attention to, and educational assistance for, children ((and)), their school environment ((is)), and their families are the most effective ways in which to meet the state's social and economic goals.

          The legislature intends to enhance the readiness to learn of certain children and students by:  Providing for an expansion of the state early childhood education and assistance program for children from low-income families and establishing an adult literacy program for certain parents; assisting school districts to establish elementary counseling programs; instituting a program to address learning problems due to drug and alcohol use and abuse; and establishing a program directed at students who leave school before graduation.

          The legislature intends further to establish programs that will allow for parental, business, and community involvement in assisting the school systems throughout the state to enhance the ability of children to learn.

 

        Sec. 8.  RCW 28A.215.160 and 1988 c 174 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department shall review applications from public or private nonsectarian organizations for state funding of early childhood education and assistance programs and award funds ((on a competitive basis)) as determined by department rules and based on local community needs and demonstrated capacity to provide services.

 

        Sec. 9.  RCW 28A.215.170 and 1988 c 174 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

          The governor shall report to the legislature before each regular session of the legislature convening in an odd-numbered year, on the ((merits of continuing and expanding the preschool program or instituting other means of providing early childhood development assistance.  The)) current status of the program, the state-wide need for early childhood program services, and the plans to address these needs.  The department shall consult with the office of the superintendent of public instruction ((shall assist the governor)) in the preparation of the biennial report and ((shall be consulted)) on all issues of mutual concern addressed in ((said)) the report.

          ((If the governor recommends the continuation of a state-funded preschool program, then)) The governor's report shall include specific recommendations on at least the following issues:

          (1) The desired relationships of a state-funded ((preschool)) early childhood education and assistance program with the common school system;

          (2) The types of children and their needs that the program should serve;

          (3) The appropriate level of state support for implementing a comprehensive ((preschool)) early childhood education and assistance program for all eligible children, including related programs to prepare instructors and provide facilities, equipment, and transportation;

          (4) The state administrative structure necessary to implement the program; and

          (5) The establishment of a system to examine and monitor the effectiveness of ((preschool)) early childhood educational and assistance services for ((disadvantaged)) eligible children to measure, among other elements, if possible, how the average level of performance of children completing this program compare to the average level of performance of all state students in their grade level, and to the average level of performance of those ((at-risk)) eligible students who ((do)) did not have access to this program.  The evaluation system shall examine how the percentage of these children needing access to special education or remedial programs compares to the overall percentage of children needing such services and compares to the percentage of ((at-risk)) eligible students who ((do)) did not have access to this program needing such services.

 

        Sec. 10.  RCW 28A.215.180 and 1990 c 33 s 214 are each amended to read as follows:

          For the purposes of RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908, the department may award state support under RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.160 to increase the numbers of eligible children assisted by the federal or state-supported ((preschool)) early childhood programs in this state ((by up to five thousand additional children)).  Priority shall be given to ((groups in)) those geographical areas which include a high percentage of families qualifying under the ((federal "at risk")) "eligible child" criteria.  The overall program funding level shall be based on an average grant per child consistent with state appropriations made for program costs:  PROVIDED, That programs addressing special needs of selected groups or communities shall be recognized in the department's rules.

 

        Sec. 11.  RCW 28A.215.200 and 1990 c 33 s 215 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department may solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests and devises for the use or benefit of the ((preschool)) early childhood state education and assistance program established by RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908.  The department shall actively solicit support from business and industry and from the federal government for the ((preschool)) state early childhood education and assistance program and shall assist local programs in developing partnerships with the community for ((children-at-risk)) eligible children.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1994.

 


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