SSB 5721

Brief Description: Concerning the membership of the expanded learning opportunities council.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Billig, Dammeier and Jayapal).

Hearing Date: 3/23/15

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

Background:

Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) are defined as:

• culturally responsive enrichment and learning activities that may focus on an array of academic and nonacademic areas;

• school-based programs that provide extended learning and enriching experiences beyond the traditional school day or calendar; and

• structured, intentional, and creative learning environments outside the traditional school day that are provided by community based-organizations (CBOs) in partnership with schools and align in-school and out-of-school learning to complement classroom-based instruction.

An ELO Council was established in 2014 to advise the Governor, the Legislature, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) regarding an ELO system, with particular attention to solutions to summer learning loss. The ELO Council must provide vision, guidance, and assistance related to summer learning opportunities, school-year calendar modifications to reduce summer learning loss, increasing partnerships between schools and the CBOs to deliver the ELOs, and other programs or initiatives that could contribute to a statewide ELO system.

All members of the ELO Council must have experience with the ELOs and include representation of diverse student interests and geographical locations. Up to 15 individuals were to be invited to participate, with representation from specified organizations and associations. Staff support is provided by the SPI. Appointees to the ELO Council were required to be selected by May 30, 2014, and the first meeting was required to be held before August 1, 2014. The first report from the ELO Council was due December 1, 2014, and annually thereafter until 2018. The statute creating the ELO Council expires August 31, 2019.

The membership of the ELO Council includes representatives from the following organizations, entities, and agencies:

• Washington Workforce Association;

• Peace Community Center;

• Washington State Parent Teacher Association;

• Northwest Community Action Center;

• Pacific Science Center;

• Schools Out Washington;

• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction;

• State Board of Education;

• University of Washington;

• Spokane Public Schools;

• Washington Student Achievement Council;

• Washington State School Directors' Association;

• Association of Washington School Principals;

• Washington Association of School Administrators; and

• Washington Education Association.

The ELO Council met six times and submitted its first report in 2014. The report provides the following:

• the ELO Council's vision and mission statement;

• the Washington State Quality Standards for Afterschool and Youth Development which the ELO Council adopted for use with state expanded learning programs;

• the initial components for a statewide ELO framework;

• a work plan to further define each component; and

• an action plan and funding model for a pilot program to reduce summer learning loss through the use of state funds for additional student learning days in elementary schools with significant populations of low-income students.

Summary of Bill:

Two additional members are added to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council (ELO) Council, a representative from the statewide association of public libraries and a representative from a statewide nonprofit coalition that is representative of communities of color and low-income communities.

This change expires August 31, 2019, the same date on which the underlying statute pertaining to the ELO Council is set to expire.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.