HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2833

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.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, subject to the appropriation of specific funding, to establish a temporary competitive grant program to award grants to school districts for the promotion of confidence, public speaking, and leadership skills in students in grades two through five.
Directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to report findings and recommendations on the grant program to the education committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate by December 1, 2018.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Ortiz-Self, Vice Chair; Reykdal, Vice Chair; Magendanz, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Stambaugh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Griffey, Hargrove, Harris, Hayes, Klippert, Kuderer, McCaslin, Orwall, Rossetti and Springer.

Background:

In addition to its constitutional charge of supervising all matter pertaining to public schools, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and its office has numerous and broad responsibilities prescribed in statute, including:

making rules and regulations necessary for the administration of public education requirements;
preparing courses of study and other materials and books for the discharge of education duties; and
fulfilling financial responsibilities, including distributing legislatively allocated funds to districts for the operation of the public school system, and awarding numerous state and federally funded grants.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Subject to funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must establish a competitive grant program to award grants to school districts for the promotion of confidence, public speaking, and leadership skills in students in grades 2 through 5. The grant program, which expires June 30, 2019, must be developed according to a schedule that provides school districts with sufficient time to apply for and receive grants in the 2016-17 school year.

Grants awarded through the program must be for school districts proposing to collaborate with a partner district for the purpose of replicating an implemented after-school program that: promotes confidence, public speaking, and leadership skills in students in grades two through five; and is fully or partially administered and funded with private funds.

School districts applying for or receiving grants through the program are encouraged to seek partnerships with public and private entities for the purpose of enhancing student benefits and minimizing costs to recipient districts and schools.

By December 1, 2018, the Superintendent of Public Instruction must report findings and recommendations for the grant program to the education committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The report must include an assessment of whether the program accomplished established goals and should be renewed.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill makes the following changes to the original bill:

removes a provision specifying that in awarding grants, the OSPI must give preference to school districts that have one or more after-school programs meeting specified criteria that promote confidence, public speaking, and leadership skills in students in grades 2 through 5;
establishes that grants awarded must be for school districts proposing to collaborate with a partner district for the purpose of replicating an implemented after-school program that: promotes confidence, public speaking, and leadership skills in students in grades 2 through 5; and is fully or partially administered and funded with private funds; and
establishes a short title for the bill specifying that it may be know and cited as the Little Toasters Act.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) A confidence, public speaking, and leadership program in schools in the Key Peninsula area is producing positive results for students. This Little Toasters program, if implemented more broadly, could have statewide benefits. The current program is for girls in elementary schools, and it matches the students with women mentors. If expanded, the program could offer many benefits to kids, including promoting confidence and a positive career trajectory.

The current program increases protective factors for kids, including self-esteem, leadership, and speaking skills. The program also increases anti-bullying skills, because of the students' increased speaking skills, and academic performance. Participants in the program also increase their resiliency factors and they stay in school. The program is currently in six schools, but it should be expanded statewide. Parents are supportive of the program because they believe it works.

Communication skills are a recurring task issue. Students who start developing communication skills at an earlier age will have better life skills.

(Opposed) None.