HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2582
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to high school completion programs.
Brief Description: Expanding high school completion programs.
Sponsors: Representatives Upthegrove, Hunter, Appleton, Hasegawa, Quall, Clibborn, Simpson, Green, Ormsby, Kenney, Hudgins and Kagi.
Brief History:
Education: 1/16/06, 2/1/06 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; P. Sullivan, Vice Chair; Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Haigh, Hunter, McDermott, Priest, Santos, Shabro, Tom and Wallace.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
High School Graduation Requirements. The State Board of Education (SBE) establishes
minimum high school graduation requirements for public schools. Students must complete at
least 19 credits in specified content areas, do a culminating project, and prepare a high school
and beyond plan. Beginning with the class of 2008, students will also need to earn a
Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) by meeting the state academic standards in
reading, writing, and mathematics on the high school Washington Assessment of Student
Learning (WASL). Local school districts may establish additional requirements. Students
can enroll in public schools until they complete a diploma or turn 21.
High School Programs in Community and Technical Colleges. Washington's community and
technical colleges have a broad mission that includes workforce training, academic degrees,
and adult education. The colleges also offer three types of high school programs:
(1) High School Completion. High School Completion enables adults to earn a regular high
school diploma issued by the college. Students can take both high school and college level
courses to complete their requirements. The SBE graduation requirements apply, except that
students over the age of 21 are exempt from the CAA under SBE rules.
The programs serve approximately 3,500 students per year, most of whom are over 21.
Students under age 18 need a release from their high school to enroll. Students over the age
of 19 are eligible for a tuition waiver; those under 19 pay tuition. The programs are funded
with state funds through the community and technical college budget. State funding for all
types of college programs is $4,400 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student, on average.
(2) Drop-Out Retrieval. Seven colleges offer high school programs under contract with a
local school district for students aged 16 to 21 to make up the credits they need to graduate.
Students who complete the school district's graduation requirements earn their diploma from
the district. About 1,700 students participate in these programs. The school district pays the
college for the program under the terms of the contract using funds from the Basic Education
Act (BEA) and other resources.
(3) Technical High Schools. Bates, Lake Washington, and Clover Park Technical Colleges
each operate a program for juniors and seniors that offers career-technical training and
courses necessary to receive a diploma from the college. Approximately 950 students are
enrolled. The colleges bill the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for
BEA funding and are prohibited from charging tuition.
Running Start. The Running Start program provides a way to use BEA funds to support
students who are dually enrolled in high school and college and are earning both high school
and college credits for their courses. The BEA allocation for Running Start is $4,166 per
FTE student.
Although the BEA represents the largest allocation of state funds for K-12 education, there
are other funding programs. For example, school districts receive $764 for each student in
the Transitional Bilingual Program. Funding for the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is
$188 per student. Funding for the Student Achievement Program (I-728) is $300 per FTE
student.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
Students under age 21 who have completed all state and local graduation requirements except
the CAA or the Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) can enroll in a high school
completion program at a community or technical college and earn a high school diploma.
Colleges must make the program available to any eligible student, but can implement it in the
following ways:
If the college delivers the program directly, it is reimbursed by the OSPI for each FTE student enrolled in high school completion courses. Funding is calculated based on the following programs:
Colleges cannot charge students in the program tuition or fees for courses that lead to a
diploma.
Student learning plans for high school students include this high school completion option, if
applicable. School districts must provide information to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
and their parents about this option. Any student who completes all state and local minimum
graduation requirements can participate in high school graduation ceremonies.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
Students must complete both state and local high school graduation requirements except the
CAA or CIA to participate in the program. For colleges that deliver the programs directly, an
amount per FTE student is added based on the state allocation for the Student Achievement
Program.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 2, 2006.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (Original bill) As we hold to our academic standards, there will be students
who come into the school system late and those who need more time. This very important
option gives students hope. Under the Basic Education Act, the state is still obligated to
serve these students and would pay for them to enroll if they were in a high school. But that
may not be the best place for them to learn. This option removes stigmas and barriers for
these students to stay in school. We need to move forward and make options available for
recent immigrants and other students.
Colleges don't have adequate funding to serve larger numbers of students who drop out of
regular high school programs. This bill provides a funding mechanism to serve students.
Having these students on the college campus could serve as a motivator for them to enroll in
college and workforce training courses. This is an excellent way to serve students when
traditional remediation strategies don't work. This adds a program to help students attain the
skills they need after high school. It opens doors and provides an alternative way to receive a
diploma. It does not restrict students from coming back to the high school as a fifth year
senior if that's what they choose.
(With concerns) There is concern about placing an undue burden on community and technical
colleges. Colleges are very committed to providing a rigorous and relevant diploma
experience. We want to motivate students to stay in school. The proposed funding levels for
colleges are less per student than what school districts receive.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Upthegrove, prime sponsor; Terry
Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Mark Okazaki, Neighborhood House; Andre
Loh; Don Carlson, Public School Employees; Mary Kenfield, Washington State Parent
Teacher Association; Don Rash, Association of Washington School Principals; and Marc
Frazer, Washington State Roundtable.
(With concerns) Sally Zeiger Hanson, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.