SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6682

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                  Education, February 1, 1996

Title:  An act relating to an integrated curriculum of agriculture and history.

Brief Description:  Establishing a pilot program to develop an integrated vocational agricultural educational program.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Swecker, Drew and Roach.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/1/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Hochstatter, Johnson, Pelz and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  Agriculture has been and continues to be an important industry of Washington State.  Educational programs could increase student awareness of the influence of agriculture in Washington State.

Summary of Bill:  If funds are appropriated, the Superintendent of Public Instruction must establish a pilot program and provide grants to selected districts to develop and implement an integrated curriculum of vocational agriculture and history.  The district must develop curriculum cooperatively with the superintendent, and organizations interested in agriculture or Washington State history.  The curriculum developed must be provided to the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning to be distributed to interested districts.  The superintendent must adopt rules to implement the program. 

There is an expiration date of June 30, 1997.

Appropriation:  $49,500.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Vocational agriculture curriculum addresses not only the many different aspects of agriculture, but also provides leadership components and skills that can transfer to other subject areas.  Students who participate in a vocational agriculture program prepare for jobs not only in agriculture, but business and other areas.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor; Tim Schneider, Jason Bodine, Josey Wickwire, Corry McCombs, Elma High School.