Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1254

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 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, 2019.

Background:

In addition to its constitutional charge of supervising all matter pertaining to public schools, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) 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.

Summary of Bill:

Subject to funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction 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 two through five. The grant program, which expires June 20, 2020, must be developed according to a schedule that provides school districts with sufficient time to apply for and receive grants in the 2017-18 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, 2019, the SPI 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.