HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1659

Title:  An act relating to the recruitment, preparation, and continuing education of vocational agriculture teachers.

Brief Description:  Establishing the Washington state vocational agriculture teacher recruitment program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Clements, Doumit, Schoesler, D. Sommers, Grant, Johnson, Tokuda and Ogden.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 13, 1997.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Bronwyn Mauldin (786-7093).

Background:  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) coordinates vocational agriculture education programs in secondary schools.  OSPI recruits, certifies, and places vocational agriculture teachers and administrators in those programs. 

In 1995, the Legislature created the Washington State Vocational Agriculture Teacher Recruitment Program, but did not fund the program.

Summary of Bill:  The Washington State Vocational Agriculture Teacher Recruitment Program is established.  The program must be designed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with representatives of public and private entities working in the agricultural industry in Washington.  The purpose of the program is to encourage students in grades 9-12 and adults who have entered other occupations to become vocational agriculture teachers. 

The program has six major components:

-Encouraging students in grades 9-12 to prepare to study vocational agriculture at an institution of higher learning;

-Promoting vocational agriculture teaching career opportunities;

-Providing students with opportunities to apply high school coursework to activities related to vocational agriculture teaching;

-Providing information on how skills learned in other occupations and professions can be applied to vocational agriculture teaching;

-Providing opportunities for under represented populations to participate in activities related to vocational agriculture; and

-Increasing cooperation among institutions of higher education in working toward the goals of the program.

Appropriation:  The sum of $49,500, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the State Board of Education.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 5, 1997.

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