BILL REQ. #:  S-3419.1 

Read first time 01/09/12.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to the opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree in three years; and amending RCW 28A.230.130 and 28B.10.118.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.230.130 and 2011 c 77 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All public high schools of the state shall provide a program, directly or in cooperation with a community college or another school district, for students whose educational plans include application for entrance to a baccalaureate-granting institution after being granted a high school diploma. The program shall help these students to meet at least the minimum entrance requirements under RCW 28B.10.050.
     (2) All public high schools of the state shall provide a program, directly or in cooperation with a community or technical college, a skills center, an apprenticeship committee, or another school district, for students who plan to pursue career or work opportunities other than entrance to a baccalaureate-granting institution after being granted a high school diploma. These programs may:
     (a) Help students demonstrate the application of essential academic learning requirements to the world of work, occupation-specific skills, knowledge of more than one career in a chosen pathway, and employability and leadership skills; and
     (b) Help students demonstrate the knowledge and skill needed to prepare for industry certification, and/or have the opportunity to articulate to postsecondary education and training programs.
     (3) Within existing resources, all public high schools in the state shall:
     (a) Work towards the goal of offering a sufficient number of high school courses that give students the opportunity to earn the equivalent of a year's worth of postsecondary credit towards a certificate, apprenticeship program, technical degree, or associate or baccalaureate degree. These high school courses are those advanced courses that have accompanying proficiency exams or demonstrated competencies that are used to demonstrate postsecondary knowledge and skills; and
     (b) Inform students and their families, emphasizing communication to underrepresented groups, about the program offerings and the opportunities to take courses that qualify for postsecondary credit through demonstrated competencies or if the student earns the qualifying score on the proficiency exam. This information shall encourage students to use the twelfth grade as the launch year for an advance start on their career and postsecondary education.
     (4) Within existing resources, all public high schools in the state must inform students and their families about opportunities to complete a baccalaureate degree program in three years.
     (5) A middle school that receives approval from the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide a career and technical program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics directly to students shall receive funding at the same rate as a high school operating a similar program. Additionally, a middle school that provides a hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics with an integrated curriculum of academic content and career and technical education, and includes a career and technical education exploratory component shall also qualify for the career and technical education funding.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.10.118 and 2011 c 108 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) State universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College may develop accelerated baccalaureate degree programs that will allow academically qualified students to obtain a baccalaureate degree in three years without attending summer classes or enrolling in more than a full-time class load during the regular academic year. The programs must allow academically qualified students to begin coursework within their academic field during their first term or semester of enrollment.
     (2) The state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall report on their plans for the accelerated baccalaureate degree programs to the higher education coordinating board or its successor agency for approval by July 1, 2012.
     (3) By July 1, 2012, each institution of higher education must clearly include in its admissions materials and on its web site accelerated baccalaureate degree programs as well as additional opportunities to complete a baccalaureate degree program in three years. By August 1, 2012, each institution must provide this information to the higher education coordinating board or its successor agency in a form that the superintendent of public instruction is able to distribute to school districts.