S-1295.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5743

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen, Hochstatter and Loveland

Read first time 02/03/95.  Referred to Committee on Education.

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

    AN ACT Relating to an integrated curriculum of agriculture and history or language arts; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes that the state of Washington has a rich agricultural history and that agriculture continues to be one of the most basic and important industries of the state.  The legislature finds that student awareness and understanding of the influence of agriculture in shaping the state should be strengthened.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall establish a pilot program and grant funds to selected school districts to develop and implement an educational program integrating vocational agriculture and academic instruction in the areas of history or language arts.  Districts receiving grants shall agree to share information about the program developed with other districts and with the center for the improvement of student learning.

    (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to carry out this section.

    (3) The school districts receiving grants under this section shall develop the integrated curriculum in cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction, state and local agricultural organizations that work with youth, and organizations interested in Washington state history.

    (4) The integrated curriculum may include, but not be limited to:

    (a) Agricultural trends:  Past, present, and future;

    (b) International agricultural trade issues;

    (c) Agricultural practices and techniques for managing water and other natural resources; and

    (d) Safety standards and practices for the handling of agricultural equipment and materials.

    (5) The center for the improvement of student learning shall distribute information about the integrated curriculum and make the curriculum available to interested school districts.

    (6) This section shall expire June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of forty-nine thousand five hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

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