Brief Description: Encouraging the creation of a comprehensive guidance, counseling, and planning program in schools.

Sponsors: Representatives Anderson, Talcott, Rodne and Hunter.

Hearing Date: 1/18/06

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

The Franklin Pierce School District in Tacoma has developed a comprehensive model of student guidance for middle and high school students called Navigation 101. The Navigation 101 model includes a class that provides students with planning skills, career exploration opportunities, portfolio development, and self-assessment of students' academic accomplishments, interests, abilities, and learning styles. Teachers and students in Navigation 101 classes stay together throughout the students' four-year high school career. Students lead annual conferences with their parents and mentor teacher, during which they explain past performance and make future plans. The district does not set its annual class schedule until students make their course selections. Since implementation of Navigation 101, the district reports a significant increase in parent participation at student conferences; an increase in student requests to enroll in more challenging mathematics and science courses; and improvement in student performance.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has encouraged other school districts to adopt a Navigation 101 model for student guidance. The OSPI reports that at least twelve other districts have adopted the model with advice and implementation support from Franklin Pierce. An unknown number of additional schools and districts have implemented one or more aspects of the model, such as student-led conferences or four-year mentor teachers.

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature encourages each middle school, junior high, and high school to implement a comprehensive guidance, counseling, and planning program. The purpose of the program is to:

• Support students as they navigate their education and plan their future;
• Encourage an ongoing, personal relationship with an adult in the school; and
• Involve parents in students' educational decisions and plans.

A comprehensive guidance, counseling, and planning program is one that contains at least the following components:

1) A curriculum that could include such topics as analysis of students' test results; assessments of student interests and aptitudes; goal-setting skills; planning for high school course selection; independent living skills; and postsecondary options and how to access them;

2) Regular meetings with a teacher or counselor who serves as the student's advisor and mentor throughout their enrollment at the school; and

3) Student-led parent-teacher conferences for the purpose of demonstrating the student's accomplishments, identifying weaknesses, planning and course selection, and long-term goal setting.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.