Title: An act relating to K-12 skill centers.

Brief Description: Providing a funding formula for skill centers.

Sponsors: Representatives Ormsby, Priest, Fromhold, Cox, P. Sullivan, Jarrett, Kenney, Buri, Ericks, Conway, Quall, Simpson, Lantz, McCoy, Chase, Moeller and Wood.

Brief History:

Education: 2/16/05, 2/21/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; P. Sullivan, Vice Chair; Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Haigh, McDermott, Santos and Shabro.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Hunter and Tom.

Staff: Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

Skills centers provide high school students with career and technical education programs that include both job preparation and academic skills. Through these regional consortia, local school districts are able to collectively offer programs that would be hard for a lone district to afford. The centers are an integral part of the K-12 system and are operated as an extension of high schools within a local region.

There are 10 skills centers operating in Washington. Eighty-five school districts across the state are members of one of the skills center consortiums. Six of the centers serve students in Western Washington; the other four serve students in Eastern Washington. They are governed by an administrative council comprised of the superintendents of the participating districts.

Skills centers are attended by students with diverse needs. The programs use competency-based individualized instruction, applied academics, and technology training to teach occupational skills. These occupational skills include basic skills, critical thinking skills, leadership skills, and work skills.

Skills centers receive state funding on a 16.67:1 ratio. The FTE (full time equivalent) is split with .6 going to Skills Centers and .4 going to high schools. The money allocated for the centers is spent on salaries and benefits, supplies, instructional materials, contracted services, travel, and capital expense. Skills centers do not run bond or levy campaigns; all monies come through state funding or grants.

Summary of Bill:

The funding formula for a skills center student shall be determined based upon the student's aggregate enrolled hours of instruction, not to exceed 1.2 full-time equivalent.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect September 1, 2005.

Testimony For: The high-quality career and technical programs offered by skills centers meet the needs of many students, especially students who are applied or hands-on learners. The programs are performance-based, aligned to the state's academic standards, and designed to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in the world of work. Some of the programs rival college courses in their rigor and scope. Two good examples of the rigorous, college level work available in skills centers can be found in the Digipen and Cisco Networking programs. Currently, for funding purposes, an FTE for a skills center student is split between the student's home high school and the skills center. The skills center receives .6 FTE and the high school the remaining .4 FTE. Some students take three classes in the home high school. When that occurs, the high school does not receive funding for the third class taken by the student. The funding formula has created a disincentive for high schools to counsel students into skills center programs. This legislation would address that disincentive by making sure that the home high school will receive full funding for skills center students.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Ormsby, prime sponsor; Joseph Wolleat and Shane Larsson, Sea Tac Occupational Skills Center; Allen Jones, Washington Association of School Business Officials; Robert Eckert, Kennewick School District; Wes Pruitt, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; Pat Jones, Bremerton School Board; Kathleen Lopp, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; Dan Steele, Washington State School Directors' Association; Don Rash, Association of Washington School Principals; and Greg Williamson, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.