HB 1779-S2.E - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Establishes the GET ready for math and science scholarship program. The purpose of the program is to provide scholarships to students who achieve level four on the mathematics or science portions of the tenth grade Washington assessment of student learning or achieve a score in the math section of the SAT or the math section of the ACT that is above the ninety-fifth percentile, major in a mathematics, science, or related field in college, and commit to working in mathematics, science, or a related field for at least three years in Washington following completion of their bachelor's degree. The program shall be administered by the nonprofit organization selected as the private partner in the public-private partnership.

Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Notify elementary, middle, junior high, high school, and school district staff and administrators, and the children's administration of the department of social and health services about the GET ready for math and science scholarship program using methods in place for communicating with schools and school districts; and

(2) Provide data showing the race, ethnicity, income, and other available demographic information of students who achieve level four of the math and science Washington assessment of student learning in the tenth grade. Compare those data with comparable information on the tenth grade student population as a whole. Submit a report with the analysis to the committees responsible for education and higher education in the legislature on December 1st of even-numbered years.

Provides that school districts shall: (1) Notify parents, teachers, counselors, and principals about the GET ready for math and science scholarship program through existing channels. Notification methods may include, but are not limited to, regular school district and building communications, online scholarship bulletins and announcements, notices posted on school walls and bulletin boards, information available in each counselor's office, and school or district scholarship information sessions.

(2) Provide each student who achieves level four on the mathematics or science high school Washington assessment of student learning with information regarding the scholarship program and how to contact the program administrator.