BILL REQ. #:  H-1672.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to centers of excellence; and amending RCW 28B.50.902.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.50.902 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 14 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The college board, in consultation with business, industry, labor, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the department of commerce, the employment security department, the council of presidents, and ((community and technical colleges)) institutions of higher education, shall designate centers of excellence and allocate funds to existing and new centers of excellence ((based)) on a competitive basis.
     (2) Eligible applicants for the program established under this section include community and technical colleges. Priority shall be given to applicants that have an established education and training program serving the targeted industry, have networked effectively with both secondary and baccalaureate institutions on developing a talent pipeline for the targeted industry, and that have in their home district or region an industry cluster with the same targeted industry at its core.
     (3) It is the role of centers of excellence to ((employ strategies)) be central sources of information regarding education and training services available to meet the needs of strategic industry sectors and enhance the careers of students in these sectors, and to be a communication conduit to Washington's education system about industry trends, in order to:
     (a) Build a diverse, competitive workforce for strategic industries;
     (b) Serve as one-stop sources of information for employers regarding education and training programs that prepare workers for strategic industries;
     (c) Serve as an information entry point for prospective students and job seekers regarding education, training, and employment in strategic industries;
     (d) Engage employer and labor representatives from strategic industries in identifying industry needs for a skilled and educated workforce and student needs for sustainable career growth, and in developing and implementing action plans that address those needs;
     (e) Create educational efficiencies;
     (((b) Build a diverse, competitive workforce for strategic industries;
     (c))) (f) Maintain an institutional reputation for innovation and responsiveness;
     (((d))) (g) Develop innovative curriculum and means of delivering education and training;
     (((e))) (h) Identify industry skill standards and industry-based certifications;
     (i) Facilitate the creation of model programs of study that are secondary and postsecondary sequences of education and training that prepare students for careers in strategic industries;
     (j) Act as brokers of information and resources related to ((community and technical college)) education and training and assistance available for firms in a targeted industry, including working with ((innovate Washington to develop methods to identify businesses within a targeted industry that could benefit from the services offered by innovate Washington under chapter 43.333 RCW)) K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and apprenticeship programs; and
     (((f))) (k) Serve as partners with workforce development councils, associate development organizations, and other workforce and economic development organizations; and coordinate with industry assistance organizations including impact Washington and innovate Washington in order to connect businesses within the targeted industries to business services.
     (4) Examples of strategies under subsection (3) of this section include but are not limited to: Sharing curriculum and other instructional resources, to ensure cost savings to the system; delivering collaborative certificate and degree programs; ((and)) holding statewide summits, seminars, conferences, and workshops on industry trends and best practices in ((community and technical college)) education and training; and coordinating industry-based certifications.
     (5) The centers of excellence shall seek federal funds and private gifts and grants to supplement state resources for the purpose of performing the strategies identified in subsections (3) and (4) of this section.