Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Higher Education Committee

HB 1705

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

Educational attainment goals.

The Student Achievement Council (Council) is statutorily required to propose educational attainment goals and priorities to meet the state's higher education needs. In 2013, the Council established two educational attainment goals for 2023 that the legislature adopted in 2014. These goals are:

All adults in Washington, ages 25-44, will have a high school diploma or equivalent.
At least 70 percent of Washington adults, ages 25-44, will have a postsecondary credential.

Basic Education for Adults.

The community and technical colleges (CTCs) are required under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide adult education for persons who are over the age of 16 who are not enrolled, or required to be enrolled, in secondary school under State law, and who:

do not have a high school diploma or degree, or have not achieved an equivalent level of education;
lack sufficient mastery of basic educational skills to function effectively in society; or
are unable to speak, read, or write English.

According to the Washington Adult Education State Plan, 10 percent of the population has less than a twelfth grade education. Adult education includes academic, vocational education or training, basic skills and literacy training, and occupational education. The programs that are included in basic adult education include:

Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL);

Comprehensive Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) Pathway;
English literacy and civics education;
High School 21+;
High School Equivalency;
Project Integrated Digital English Acceleration (I-DEA);
Volunteer Literacy Programs; and
WorkFirst.

The CTCs may waive all or a portion of tuition, services, and activity fees for students 19 years of age or older who are eligible for resident tuition and are enrolled in a course or program to finish their high school education.

The Caseload Forecast Council.

The Caseload Forecast Council is in charge of overseeing the preparation and approving of the official state caseload forecasts. The caseload forecasts estimate the number of persons expected to meet entitlement requirements and require the services of public assistance programs, state correctional institutions, state correctional non-institutional supervision, state institutions for juvenile offenders, the common school system, long-term care, medical assistance, foster care, adoption support, and the number of students eligible for the College Bound Scholarship and who are expected to attend an institution of higher education.

Summary of Bill:

The legislature is required to provide the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board) with a separate appropriation to provide basic education for adults. The amount of the appropriation must be determined by multiplying the total full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment in basic education for adults courses by the statewide average per FTE high school student allocation, multiplied by the following factors:

for the 2015-16 academic year, the factor must be 0.5;
for the 2016-17 academic year, the factor must be 0.6;
for the 2017-18 academic year, the factor must be 0.7;
for the 2018-19 academic year, the factor must be 0.8;
for the 2019-20 academic year, the factor must be 0.9; and
for the 2020-21 academic year and thereafter, the factor must be 1.

The State Board is required to submit a budget request each year to adjust their appropriation to ensure full funding for the actual number of FTE students who enroll in basic education for adults courses in CTCs.

The Caseload Forecast Council is required to estimate the anticipated number of FTE students who will enroll in basic education for adults courses at CTCs.