Title: An act relating to creation of the position of world language supervisor.

Brief Description: Creating the position of world language supervisor in the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

Sponsors: House Committee on App Subcom Ed (originally sponsored by Representatives Hudgins, Schual-Berke, Hasegawa, Roberts, Goodman, Kenney, Santos, Chase and Quall).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/08, 65-32.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/20/08, 2/27/08 [DP-WM, DNP, w/oRec].

Ways & Means: 3/3/08 [DP, DNP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Eide, Hobbs, Kauffman, McDermott, Oemig and Rasmussen.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators King, Ranking Minority Member; Holmquist.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Brandland.

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Hatfield, Hobbs, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller and Tom.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Hewitt and Schoesler.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senators Brandland, Honeyford and Parlette.

Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background: Instruction in world languages is not a state high school graduation requirement in Washington, although students seeking admission to one of the state's public four-year institutions of higher education must have taken two years of the same foreign language, Native American language, or American Sign Language. Washington's Essential Academic Learning Requirements do not cover world languages. However, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has endorsed, for voluntary use, standards for world language instruction adopted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The OSPI does not currently have a staff position dedicated to world languages.

Summary of Bill: The OSPI must assign at least one full-time staff as the world language supervisor. The supervisor's duties are to:

• develop and conduct professional development for teachers;
• provide technical assistance to schools and advise in the development of online courses;
• secure and implement grants and implement memoranda of understanding with foreign ministries of education;
• foster an articulated curriculum through elementary, secondary, and postsecondary grades;
• establish and maintain a database on course offerings in public schools;
• serve as an education liaison and advisor; and
• coordinate with existing world language resources at the colleges and universities.

Provisions relating to the world language supervisor do not relate to the first peoples' languages or affect the first peoples' teacher certification program.

The bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Second Substitute (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: This bill is great for jobs and the economy of our state because our state trades with many other countries and we need to teach our kids the language of our customers. OSPI had a dedicated person for world languages but when education reform was passed without world language included then OSPI scaled back in that area. But teachers really want to have their OSPI supervisor back. This position will coordinate visas and bringing in resources to our state. The Legislature has passed this policy before and the concerns expressed in the Governor's veto have been addressed by this bill. The lack of a world language supervisor impacts school districts across the state. Federal and regional grants are not available to Washington because we have no statewide coordinator and the coordinator can leverage other funding. Washington needs state-level leadership with a person who has the time and appropriate skills to do this.

Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Representative Zack Hudgins, prime sponsor; Lauren Kiolet, Washington Association for Language Teaching; Isabel Munoz-Colon, OSPI; Michele Anciaux Aoki, Washington State Coalition for International Education.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): None.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.