Brief Description: Creating learning opportunities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Brandland, Hobbs, McDermott, Rasmussen, Weinstein, Oemig, Tom, Kauffman, Hargrove, Fairley, Franklin and Shin; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Education
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Beginning with the class of 2008, a student may graduate from high school with a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) if they successfully complete four state requirements:
   1)   earn the 19 minimum course requirements established by the state (and any additional local school district requirements);
   2)   meet the state standard on the reading, writing, and mathematics WASL or an approved alternative assessment;
   3)   complete a culminating project; and
   4)   create a high school and beyond plan.

Until 2013 a student may graduate from high school without a CAA if they successfully complete the four state requirements except for meeting the state mathematics' standard on the WASL. Those students must then earn two additional credits in mathematics in order to graduate. Student learning plans are required to be developed for students in grades 8-12 who are not successful on any or all of the content areas of the WASL. The plans must include the courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be taken by the student to meet the state academic standards and stay on track for graduation.

The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is a state-funded program to assist students who are underachieving in academic basic skills using authorized services and activities. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) establishes policies and practices for education preparation and certification programs. Last session, the Legislature created the Washington College Bound Scholarship to cover the costs of college tuition fees and books for low-income students who sign a pledge in seventh or eighth grade promising to graduate from high school and demonstrate good citizenship.

Summary: The Extended Learning Opportunities program (Program) is created for students who are not on track to meet the state or local high school graduation requirements. A list of possible types of instructional services, and times and locations of the instructional services, are provided, including reading specialists at the educational service districts (ESDs) to provide professional development to educators and direct services to eligible students, and continued enrollment in the school districts for twelfth grade students. LAP funds may be used to provide these instructional services. Additionally, a LAP enhancement is created for school districts that have 20 percent or more students in the bilingual program and 40 percent or more eligible for free or reduced lunch. The required information in student learning plans is expanded to include graduation status and other specified information and must be translated into the primary language of the family, if feasible.

If funds are provided, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) must explore on-line curriculum support currently available in languages other than English, and recommend to the Legislature by December 1, 2008, on-line programs in other languages that would most appropriately assist Washington's English language learners.

The ESDs must develop and provide a program of outreach to community-based programs and organizations serving non-English populations, low-income, and special education students. The ESDs must consult and coordinate with the Governor's minority commissions and the Office of Indian Affairs in conducting the outreach and are encouraged to partner with business. The purpose of the outreach is to inform and engage students in the educational opportunities available under this act.

The PESB must convene a work group to develop recommendations for increasing teacher knowledge, skills, and competencies to address the needs of English language learners. The work group must include specified representatives, and must include members from diverse cultural backgrounds and a balanced geographic representation. By December 1, 2008, a report must be provided identifying gaps and weaknesses in the current standards for teacher preparation and teacher competencies related to language acquisition and cultural competencies.

Students who are in the eighth grade during the College Bound Scholarship's first year will have two years within which to learn about and sign up for the scholarship, as is already allowed for students in all subsequent years. Subject to funds being appropriated, the SPI must provide for school districts to provide all tenth graders the option to take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test) at no cost to the students.

If funding is provided, SPI must allocate grants for summer exploratory career and technical education programs in mathematics, science, and technology in middle and high schools.

Subject to funding, SPI must contract with a national organization to establish and operate a geography endowment in Washington. The organization must provide equal matching funds to the state funds provided. The funds and interest on the endowment must be used for geography education programs, including curriculum, resource collections, and professional development. SPI will annually report on the program.

SPI must allocate funds appropriated in the budget in specified amounts to support implementation of specific sections of 2SSB 6377 (C 170 L 08 PV) addressing career and technical education.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      92   1   (House amended)
Senate            (Senate refused to concur)
House      96   0   (House amended)
Senate      45   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008

Partial Veto Summary: The requirement for ESDs to develop and provide a program of outreach to community-based programs and organizations serving non-English populations, low-income, and special education students is removed. The provision requiring school districts to provide all tenth graders the option to take the PSAT at no cost to the students is removed. The grants for summer exploratory career and technical education programs in mathematics, science, and technology in middle and high schools are removed. The requirement that SPI contract with a national organization to establish and operate a geography endowment and annually report on the program is removed.