H-0116.2  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 1013

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Carlson, Radcliff, Dunn and Sheahan

 

Prefiled 12/28/98.  Read first time 01/11/1999.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

Changing the goals and priorities for grants under the Washington fund for innovation and quality education program.


    AN ACT Relating to the Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education program; amending RCW 28B.120.005 and 28B.120.020; and creating a new section.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  It is the intent of the legislature to update and fund the higher education competitive grant program established by the 1991 legislature, known as the Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education.  Changes are needed so that the goals and priorities set forth for awarding grants reflect the 1999-01 goals and priorities.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 28B.120.005 and 1991 c 98 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The legislature finds that encouraging collaboration among the various educational sectors to meet state-wide needs will strengthen the entire educational system, kindergarten through twelfth grade and higher education.  The legislature also recognizes that the most effective way to develop innovative and collaborative programs is to encourage institutions to develop them voluntarily, in line with established state goals.  Through a system of competitive grants, the legislature shall encourage the development of innovative and collaborative solutions to issues of critical state-wide need, including:

    (1) ((Improving rates of participation and completion at each educational level;

    (2) Recognizing needs of special populations of students;

    (3) Improving the effectiveness of education by better coordinating communication and understanding between sectors.)) Furthering the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery;

    (2) Furthering the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates; and

    (3) Increasing the collaboration among both public and private sector institutions of higher education.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 28B.120.020 and 1996 c 41 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The higher education coordinating board shall have the following powers and duties in administering the program:

    (1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;

    (2) To establish one or more review committees to assist in the evaluation of proposals for funding.  The review committee shall include individuals with significant experience in higher education in areas relevant to one or more of the funding period priorities and shall include representatives from both the four-year and two-year sectors of higher education;

    (3) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting grant proposals consistent with the overall goals of the program.  During the ((1995-97)) 1999-01 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the following desired outcomes of ((increasing access, improving time to degree, improving student learning, and increasing efficiency and collaboration between institutions of higher education and the private sector through projects that may emphasize)):

    (a) ((Minority and diversity initiatives that encourage the participation of minorities in higher education, including students with disabilities, at a rate consistent with their proportion of the population;

    (b))) K‑12 teacher preparation models that encourage collaboration between higher education and K‑12 to improve the preparedness of teachers, including provisions for higher education faculty involved with teacher preparation to spend time teaching in K‑12 schools;

    (((c) Multi-institutional or multifaculty development and evaluation of:

    (i))) (b) Collaborative instructional programs involving K‑12, community and technical colleges, and four‑year institutions of higher education to develop a three‑year degree program, or reduce the time to degree;

    (((ii) Instructional technology and multimedia curricular projects; and

    (iii) A degree offered entirely on the internet;

    (d) Individual institutional or faculty pilot projects to:

    (i) Improve efficiency by five percent per year in cost or graduation rate;

    (ii) Improve student retention;

    (iii) Develop competencies and outcomes for general education or university requirements and degree programs;

    (iv))) (c) Contracts with public or private institutions or businesses to provide services or the development of collaborative programs;

    (((e))) (d) Articulation and transfer activities to smooth the transfer of students from K‑12 to higher education, or from the community colleges and technical colleges to four-year institutions; ((and

    (f) Other innovative proposals.))

    (e) Projects that further the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery; and

    (f) Projects that further the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates.

    After June 30, ((1996)) 2001, and each biennium thereafter, the board shall determine funding priorities for collaborative proposals for the biennium in consultation with the governor, the legislature, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, the work force training and education coordinating board, higher education institutions, educational associations, and business and community groups consistent with state-wide needs;

    (4) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the institutions of higher education about the program; and

    (5) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring, and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants.

 


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