BILL REQ. #:  H-1200.1 

Read first time 01/27/09.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to career and technical student organizations; and amending RCW 28A.300.380.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.300.380 and 2000 c 84 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that career and technical student organizations help to prepare students to meet minimum college and workforce requirements.
     (2) Career and technical student organization activities are integral to career and technical education if they:
     (a) Provide instructional strategies used to develop, improve, and expand occupational competencies that relate to a particular career and technical subject matter;
     (b) Are an extension of the classroom and laboratory instructional program that enriches and enhances classroom learning; and
     (c) Include curriculum-oriented activities to help students to gain personal and leadership skills that maximize employability and the ability to become productive citizens in the workforce, home, and community.
     (3) In order to receive state support, student organizations must:
     (a) Prepare students for career experiences beyond high school;
     (b) Help students develop personal, leadership, technical, and occupational skills;
     (c) Be an integral component of career and technical education instructional programs; and
     (d) Directly help students achieve state learning goals, especially goals three and four with respect to critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
     (4) The superintendent of public instruction shall maintain support for statewide coordination for career and technical student organizations by providing program staff support that is available to assist in meeting the needs of career and technical student organizations and their members and students. The superintendent shall provide at least one full-time equivalent program staff for purposes of implementing this section. The superintendent may provide additional support to the organizations through contracting with independent coordinators.
     (((2))) (5) Career and technical student organizations eligible for technical assistance and other support services under this section are organizations recognized as career and technical student organizations by:
     (a) The United States department of education; or
     (b) The superintendent of public instruction, if such recognition is recommended by the Washington association for career and technical education.
     (((3))) (6) Career and technical student organizations eligible for technical assistance and other support services under this section include, but are not limited to: The national FFA organization; family, career, and community leaders of America; skillsUSA; distributive education clubs of America; future business leaders of America; and the technology student association.