H-3905.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2353

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By 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

Read first time 01/10/96.  Referred to Committee on Education.

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

     AN ACT Relating to assisting school districts to establish and develop educational foundations; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that nonprofit educational foundations created to provide financial and other support to public schools can play an important role in enhancing the quality of education in Washington state.  Educational foundations are private nonprofit corporations that are organized to benefit education in school districts and local communities.  These foundations do not supplant the role of the state.  They are able to access private, federal, and local resources not otherwise available to public schools, to devise innovative solutions to solve problems, and to serve students in new and innovative ways.  Existing efforts supported or administered by foundations include drop-out prevention programs, innovative classroom grants, and math clubs for girls.

     The legislature further finds that while the number of public school foundations in Washington is increasing, only a small percentage of the school districts in the state are assisted by foundations.  In addition, many states have one hundred to two hundred education foundations enhancing educational opportunities for their students.  Additional leadership and support from the state in assisting in the establishment and development of foundations would increase the number of foundations, and thereby increase the number of students who would benefit from their support.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall enter into a contract with one or more organizations or individuals to provide support, guidance, training, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations for the establishment and development of nonprofit educational foundations established to provide financial support and services to assist public schools.

     (2) The department shall solicit contract proposals from the following:  Washington state school directors' association, Washington coalition of public schools foundations, northwest development officers association, Washington association of partners in education, and other individuals and organizations that have the appropriate experience and expertise.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act shall expire December 31, 1998.

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