BILL REQ. #: H-1492.1
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2011 Regular Session |
Read first time 02/09/11. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to creating a peer mentoring program; amending RCW 28B.12.055; and adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that peer mentoring
programs, such as the pilot program launched in fall 2009 at Western
Washington University, provide tangible and long-lasting benefits for
all elementary students, especially low-income students, students of
color, and first generation students, by encouraging school attendance,
setting aspirations for graduation from high school, increasing
awareness of life options, and inspiring dreams of a higher education.
The legislature further finds that, for the college student mentors,
the experience provides a valuable opportunity to increase interest in
career opportunities in the counseling and teaching professions. The
legislature thus intends to expand the peer mentoring program across
the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 By September 1, 2012, the six four-year
institutions of higher education shall create and implement a peer
mentoring program modeled after the pilot program launched in fall 2009
at Western Washington University. Working with the state board for
community and technical colleges, each of the six institutions shall
identify one or more community or technical colleges with which to
partner in the program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 The goals of the peer mentoring program are
to:
(1) Encourage at-risk elementary school students to complete high
school and attend college, boosting the percentage of Washington
students who continue on to college;
(2) Provide positive role models for at-risk students and allow
college students the opportunity to perform community service;
(3) Strengthen relationships between the communities, the
universities, the community colleges, and the public schools, and area
youth;
(4) Introduce at-risk students to college and provide them an
opportunity to experience their public colleges and universities; and
(5) Increase the number of youth who view going to college as both
necessary and achievable.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 Each of the six four-year institutions of
higher education shall:
(1) Recruit college students interested in serving as mentors to
elementary school students;
(2) Identify one or more local elementary schools with demonstrated
need for a peer mentoring program;
(3) Develop a curriculum to train college student mentors, for
which college-level credit can be granted;
(4) Develop any necessary contracts or interagency agreements to
facilitate program implementation;
(5) Provide ongoing support and oversight of the program;
(6) Solicit grants, awards, and gifts from individuals, businesses,
agencies, and foundations;
(7) Provide community outreach and publicity for the program;
(8) Develop appropriate outcome measures and evaluate the program
at regular intervals; and
(9) Together with its community and technical college partners, and
in close collaboration with other community and institutional partners,
submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2013, and December
1st of each odd-numbered year thereafter, that includes an evaluation
of the program and outcome measurements.
Sec. 5 RCW 28B.12.055 and 2009 c 215 s 12 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Within existing resources, the higher education coordinating
board shall establish the work-study opportunity grant for high-demand
occupations, a competitive grant program to encourage job placements in
high-demand fields. The board shall award grants to eligible
institutions of higher education that have developed a partnership with
a proximate organization willing to host work-study placements.
Partner organizations may be nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms,
or public agencies. Eligible institutions of higher education must
verify that all job placements will last for a minimum of one academic
quarter or one academic semester, depending on the system used by the
eligible institution of higher education.
(2) The board may adopt rules to identify high-demand fields for
purposes of this section. The legislature recognizes that the high-demand fields identified by the board may differ in different regions
of the state.
(3) The board may award grants to eligible institutions of higher
education that cover both student wages and program administration,
including institutions participating in the peer mentoring program in
chapter 28B.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 6 of this act).
(4) The board shall develop performance benchmarks regarding
program success including, but not limited to, the number of students
served, the amount of employer contributions, and the number of
participating high-demand employers.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 Sections 1 through 4 of this act constitute
a new chapter in Title