Title: An act relating to after-school programs.

Brief Description: Creating the Washington community learning center program.

Sponsors: Senators Eide, McAuliffe and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 1/26/06, 1/27/06 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair, Early Learning & K-12; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Shin.

Staff: Ingrid Mungia (786-7423)

Background: During 2004, the Washington Afterschool Network and School's Out Washington drafted a plan intended to help students succeed in school and life through increased and improved afterschool programs. The two organizations were assisted by staff from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Division of Childcare and Early Learning in the Department of Social and Health Services.

The two organizations sought advice from a variety of different groups involved in afterschool programs through surveys and 23 focus groups that were held in communities throughout the state. Four focus groups sought advice from over 100 middle and high school students.

The plan created through this process recommends that the Legislature appropriate an additional $5,000,000 during the next biennium for afterschool programs. The funds would create fifty additional afterschool programs serving 9000 students. It would also provide training and professional development for afterschool program staff, support afterschool intermediary organizations, and increase public awareness of the benefits of afterschool programs.

Summary of Bill: The Washington Community Learning Center program is established. The program will be administered by the OSPI. The program has four purposes, one of which is the support or expansion of community learning centers that provide students with afterschool tutoring and educational enrichment. Other purposes include training and professional development for community learning center staff, support for statewide afterschool intermediary organizations, and increasing public awareness of the availability and benefits of afterschool programs.

To the extent that funding is available, OSPI may provide grants to organizations that meet the eligibility criteria of the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. A priority will be given to grant requests that focus on improving the reading and mathematics skills of students in Title I schools that have been identified as being in need of improvement. A priority may be given to requests that are submitted jointly by school districts with non-school partners. The grants may be used to carry out a broad array of activities that support and enhance academic achievement.

The sum of $275,000, is appropriated to OSPI to support the program.

Appropriation: $275,000.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2006.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2006.

Testimony For: After school programs like the one proposed in the bill help student achievement in school. After school programs are critical and the bill is critical because staff need to be trained to work with the students. Children are not required to attend afterschool activities; they come because they love it. The funds appropriated in the bill for this program would have a direct impact on students. This bill supports students. Kids with special needs that use afterschool programs are increasing and having trained staff would benefit the students and their families. Having trained staff is very important. This bill addresses a huge gap in the middle school years.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Eide, prime sponsor; Janet Frieling, School's Out; Jack Albaugh, Puget Sound ESD; Tim Endfield, Franklin Pierce Schools; Lisa Taylor, Seattle Public Schools; Shelley Parieau, Federal Way Boys and Girls Club; Cherrisa Eggleston, Truman High School; Michael Watte, Citizen; Celine Watte, citizen.