HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2353

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to assisting school districts to establish and develop educational foundations.

Brief Description:  Requiring the department of community, trade, and economic development to provide support to individuals and organizations for the establishment of nonprofit education foundations.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dickerson, Brumsickle, Radcliff, Skinner, Poulsen, Horn, Mason, Clements, Pennington, Cole, Chopp, Cody, Costa, Hatfield, Robertson, Conway, Scheuerman, Blanton, Hankins, Jacobsen, Murray, Patterson and Veloria.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  1/23/96, 1/26/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Clements; Fuhrman; Hatfield; Linville; McMahan; Pelesky; Poulsen; Quall; Radcliff; Smith; Talcott; B. Thomas; Thompson and Veloria.

Staff:  Susan Ronn (786-7292).

Background:  Educational foundations are private, nonprofit corporations that are created to provide financial and other support to public schools.  These entities are often able to access private, local, and federal resources not otherwise available to schools, and therefore are in a unique position to serve students in innovative ways.  Typical educational foundation projects include drop-out prevention programs, homeschool partnership programs, technology support, and assistance to young children and their parents.

The process to establish and develop educational foundations is complex.

Summary of Bill:   The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development is directed to contract with individuals or organizations in order to assist in establishing and developing educational foundations.  The department will solicit proposals from both identified organizations and from others who have the necessary experience and expertise.  Individuals or organizations awarded contracts will provide support, guidance, training, and technical assistance to those seeking to establish and develop educational foundations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 17, 1996.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:   Educational foundations can assist school districts in many ways.  They can provide financial assistance and empower communities to become more involved in the public schools.  National research has shown that educational foundations are successful in numerous communities.  However, the process to establish a foundation is complex.  This bill will provide the needed assistance.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Dickerson, prime sponsor; Representative Skinner; and Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association.