Z-1586.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6468

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

 

By Senators Bauer, Prince and Drew

 

Read first time 01/24/94.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

 

Creating the postsecondary education resource center.



    AN ACT Relating to the provision of information about postsecondary education; adding new sections to chapter 28B.80 RCW; and creating new sections.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) Education beyond high school benefits both the individual recipient and society in general.  Those with postsecondary education not only have a greater likelihood of prospering individually, but of contributing to the state's economy since they are more likely to remain employed, to rely less on state-subsidized welfare or health services, and to generate state revenue through sales or property taxes.  They also are more able to adapt to changing job requirements.

    (2) Many individuals, particularly those from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds, do not have access to information about the value and need for postsecondary education; the steps involved in preparing for college; the location of postsecondary education or training programs of interest; or the availability of financial assistance for those who need it.  Many do not have support systems that encourage their participation.  Information and personal advising are especially needed by many low-income and disadvantaged middle and high school students, out-of-school youth, and adults in need of training or retraining who do not now have access to such information and personal assistance.

    (3) High school counselors, who have served as the traditional source of information about postsecondary education for their students, are finding it increasingly difficult to dedicate the amount of time needed for college advising, due to the high student-to-counselor ratio, which is five hundred thirty-five on average, state-wide, and due to the increasingly difficult social issues with which they must deal.

    (4) Although many agencies and community and social service organizations provide information about career planning and, to some extent postsecondary education opportunities, they are limited in scope and in the number of individuals they can serve.  These information providers need access to current information about the availability of postsecondary programs and student financial aid.

    (5) In spite of existing efforts of high school counselors and other information providers, there remain populations that do not have access to information about educational options or assistance in planning and in applying for admission and for financial aid.  These populations include high school students, out-of-school youth, and adults in need of training or retraining.  Without such information and assistance, these individuals do not know how or where to begin and often do not, at great cost to themselves and to society in general.

    (6) The need of information about postsecondary education options exists throughout the population and in all areas of the state.  However, it appears to be most acute in the highly populated King county and throughout southwestern and south central Washington, including Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, Lewis, Skamania, Klickitat, Yakima, Douglas, Grant, and Adams counties.

    (7) There is a need for a comprehensive postsecondary education resource and information center, where Washington residents can access available materials and receive individual counseling on career options, postsecondary programs, entrance requirements, and information regarding student financial aid.

    (8) There is also a need for a resource center to serve as a source of information for guidance counselors, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and other information providers.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  (1) The postsecondary education resource center is created.  The purpose of the center is to provide comprehensive postsecondary educational information and counseling services for high school students, out-of-school youth, adults, and parents.  An additional purpose of the center is to serve as a resource for schools and other nonprofit organizations seeking to provide information about postsecondary education.  Services of the center will be available to all individuals, but will be targeted primarily to low-income or disadvantaged populations.

    (2) The postsecondary education resource center shall:

    (a) Serve as a repository and clearinghouse for information on postsecondary education opportunities;

    (b) Employ staff with expertise in career, academic, and financial aid planning to provide counseling in any of these subjects;

    (c) Take actions to increase public awareness of the importance of postsecondary education, including developing and distributing postsecondary education awareness information;

    (d) Provide information to high school counselors and other in-state organizations that provide information on postsecondary education opportunities;

    (e) Coordinate with other local service providers to ensure that services offered by the center will not duplicate other existing services, but will increase the availability of information to those who seek it;

    (f) Build and strengthen relationships with organizations locally, state-wide, and nationally to share resources and provide better service;

    (g) Provide consultative services to communities seeking to establish similar programs at other sites throughout the state;

    (h) Perform other functions consistent with the purpose of the center as prescribed in subsection (1) of this section.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  The center shall be located in King county, with an auxiliary site established in Yakima county.  The center and its auxiliary site shall be established in a central, neutral, and accessible location and will be open to all who seek information on postsecondary education opportunities, including adult workers, middle and secondary school students, their parents, and out-of-school youth.  Outreach to individuals living in other high-need areas shall be coordinated from these locations.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  Working in collaboration with the public schools, colleges, state-wide higher education organizations, and community service groups, the center shall also function as a resource for guidance counselors, community agency staff, educational institutions, and other nonprofit information providers.  By design, the center shall augment, rather than duplicate, the work of other information providers.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  The center shall have an advisory board representing high school counselors, financial aid administrators, college admissions officers, business, community organizations, and organizations providing postsecondary information services to state residents.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  The center shall function under the direction of the higher education coordinating board.  The location, staffing, and management of the center shall be determined by the higher education coordinating board, after consultation with the advisory board authorized in section 5 of this act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  The board shall seek funds available from the federal government to help support such outreach efforts and the board may accept resources and funding from private and public sources to support the center.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.  The board shall evaluate the effect of services on assisted populations and report findings to the governor and fiscal and higher education committees of the legislature by December 1998.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  Sections 2 through 8 of this act are each added to chapter 28B.80 RCW.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1994, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act shall be null and void.

 


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