BILL REQ. #:  H-1084.1 

Read first time 02/02/2005.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to K-12 skill centers; amending RCW 28C.22.010; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that skill centers provide students with high quality educational opportunities through programs that combine academics with career and technical education. The legislature also finds that skill centers provide extremely valuable support to local businesses seeking skilled entry-level employees and to communities attempting to enhance local economic development opportunities. Through skill center programs, students learn the technical knowledge and skills necessary either to pursue additional education through apprenticeships, technical schools, or institutions of higher education, or go directly into entry-level employment and begin careers. The legislature finds that skill centers permit a number of school districts to cooperatively offer programs that the school districts cannot provide individually. The legislature further finds that the funding formula used for skill center students needs to be revised to ensure that a student who is taking classes at a skill center and high school simultaneously generates full funding for the instruction that each provides to the student. The legislature intends to enhance the opportunities that students have to enroll in skill centers by revising the funding formula for skill center students.

Sec. 2   RCW 28C.22.010 and 1993 c 380 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Skill centers, to the extent funds are available, are encouraged to operate afternoon and evening programs.
     (2) The funding formula for a skill center student shall be determined based upon the student's aggregate enrolled hours of instruction, not to exceed 1.2 full-time equivalent.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect September 1, 2005.