SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2375

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 25, 2000

Title:  An act relating to information and technology literacy in higher education.

Brief Description:  Addressing information technology literacy at baccalaureate institutions of higher education.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lantz, Esser, Carlson, Kenney, Dunn, O'Brien and Haigh.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/21/2000, 2/25/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Sheahan, B. Sheldon and West.

Staff:  Jean Six (7867-7423)

Background:  Washington State first began to highlight accountability in the 1986 Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) master plan C Building a System.  Over time, the accountability effort has shifted from a primary focus on efficiencies to a focus on student learning outcomes.

For the four-year higher education institutions, the 1997-99 budget established performance goals and targets tied to non-instructional funding.  Funds were released following a determination by the HECB that "meaningful and substantial progress" had been made toward the legislative goals.  The 1999-01 budget required continuous progress on meeting the performance goals but had no funds tied to the performance.

The 1997-99 budget also established goals and targets tied to non-instructional funding for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and asked the Board to recommend revisions to the system.  The 1999-01 budget includes mission -based performance measures for the community and technical colleges.

During the 1999 interim, accountability forums were co-sponsored by the HECB, the SBCTC, and the Council of Presidents (COP).  Participants in the forums agree that, as next steps in the accountability effort, the public four-year sector should focus attention on measures that relate to enhancing students' learning and understanding in a number of areas including information and technology literacy.

Summary of Bill:  An interinstitutional work group is convened to (1) define information and technology literacy, (2) develop the way in which to measure the achievement of information and technology literacy, and (3) assess the cost of implementing strategies and assessments of students' information and technology literacy.

Representatives of the public four-year higher education institutions designated by COP, in consultation with representatives of the community and technical colleges and the HECB, must deliver a progress report in January 2001 to the House and Senate higher education committees.  A report in January of 2002 will include not only the product of the interinstitutional work group but also institutionally specific plans for implementation.

If the Legislature determines that implementation is feasible, a pilot program will operate during the 2003-04 academic year. A report on the pilot study will determine further implementation beginning in the 2004-05 academic year.  During the 2005 session, the HECB will report results to the House and Senate committees on higher education.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The bill is most important for the collaboration that it represents.  Higher education accountability must be outcomes based.  NCSL will be issuing a grade to the 50 states and Washington will be one of the few A grades.  Higher education must be accountable to students, to businesses, to society as a whole.  There are times when the institutions must have partnerships not only with the Legislature but with businesses.  The student is the primary constituent.  Efficiency is not the only issue.  Is education becoming more job driven?  The HECB supports linking accountability with student learning outcomes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Lantz, prime sponsor; Terry Teale, COP; Judy McNickle, WWU; Bruce Botka, HECB.