SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5476
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Higher Education, February 8, 2007
Title: An act relating to a mentoring program for students in grades eight through twelve.
Brief Description: Creating a mentoring program for students in grades eight through twelve.
Sponsors: Senators Shin, Berkey, Schoesler, Kohl-Welles, Delvin, Spanel, Hewitt, McAuliffe and Rasmussen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education: 2/07/07, 2/8/07 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5476 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Delvin, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Schoesler and Sheldon.
Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)
Background: The Washington Campus Compact (WACC) is a statewide coalition of college
and university presidents who have united to further the civic purposes of higher education by:
creating academic and co-curricular service opportunities for students to develop the skills and
habits of citizenship; encouraging the engagement of faculty in community-based scholarship that
addresses societal concerns; and fostering the development of collaborative partnerships among
campuses, and with communities.
Colleges in Washington and Idaho, under the direction of the WACC, leverage local, state, and
national resources to bring Learn and Serve America to each of the 11 congressional districts in
the two states. Learn and Serve America provides support to schools, higher education
institutions, and community-based organizations that engage students, their teachers, and others
in service-learning. The Learn and Serve's Count Me In program improves school success of
disadvantaged P–12 youth by growing and replicating existing tutoring, mentoring, and service-learning projects. College service-learning students work with disadvantaged youth to mitigate
barriers to school success and improve college access. WACC's Retention Project utilizes
service-learning as a strategy to improve the retention of first-generation college students and the
academic advancement of disadvantaged high school students. WACC directs the administration
of the Retention Project in collaboration with Washington State colleges and universities, high
schools, community leaders, and policy makers. WACC and its higher education host sites
provide training and professional development opportunities to 20 full-time AmeriCorps
members. Members recruit and train first-generation college service-learning students to mentor
disadvantaged high school students.
Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Proposed Substitute As Heard In Committee (Higher Education): The WACC
at Western Washington University develops a statewide network of partnerships between
institutions of higher education and common schools serving 8th to 12th grade students. The
partnerships include programs for postsecondary students to mentor common school students.
The WACC measures the impact of the program on all of the participants.
Funding must be used for: (1) the mentoring program; (2) training for the partnerships; (3)
improving accountability by developing assessment mechanisms to measure impacts of the
mentoring program; and (4) disseminating best practices statewide.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED SUBSTITUTE AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Higher Education): It is clarified that private institutions of higher education are included in the statewide network of partnerships.
Appropriation: Available.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: College students want to make a difference and encourage younger students to stay in school and go on to higher education. It is estimated that 2,500 student mentors could be recruited. This programs builds upon already existing efforts.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Shin, prime sponsor; Mark Palek, President, Spokane Falls Community College; Michaelann Jundt, University of Washington; Jonathan Meade, student, Seattle University; Jennifer Dorr, Executive Director, Washington Campus Compact.