H-4830.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2425

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Elliot, Patterson, Keiser and Thompson)

Read first time 02/02/96.

Providing incentive grants for high schools to adopt the international baccalaureate program.

    AN ACT Relating to incentives for high schools to adopt the international baccalaureate program; 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 it is essential that we raise the academic rigor of the curriculum in our public schools.  If our children are going to be able to compete in the increasingly global economy and lead satisfying and productive lives, they must be offered an educational program that has high standards in academically challenging subject areas.

    The legislature further finds that the international baccalaureate program achieves this goal of having high standards in academically challenging subject areas.  The international baccalaureate program, which is voluntarily adopted by high schools, includes two years of study and a carefully controlled system of examinations.  The curriculum includes English, a foreign language, history, philosophy, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and an elective.  The diploma earned in the international baccalaureate program is recognized as an automatic admission standard to colleges and universities in more than forty nations throughout the world.

    The legislature further finds that five high schools in the state of Washington are involved in the program, and that additional high schools would adopt the international baccalaureate program if financial assistance were available to help pay for the application fees, staff training costs, and other expenses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The superintendent of public instruction shall award incentive grants to high schools for the purpose of adopting the international baccalaureate program.  The grants shall be used to pay for application fees, staff training costs, and other expenses associated with adopting the program.  The superintendent shall require that high schools provide local funding that meets or exceeds the amount of the grant.  The maximum amount of a grant shall be twenty-five thousand dollars.  If the amount of appropriated funds prevents the superintendent from awarding twenty-five thousand dollar grants to all high schools that apply, the amount of the grant to each high school shall be prorated.  The superintendent shall award the grants no later than November 15, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act shall expire December 31, 1996.

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