SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2686
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. |
As of February 24, 2018
Title: An act relating to high school and beyond plans.
Brief Description: Concerning high school and beyond plans.
Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ortiz-Self, Santos, Dolan, Frame, Bergquist, Doglio, Sells and Ryu).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/18, 77-21.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/22/18, 2/23/18 [DP-WM, w/oRec].
Ways & Means: 2/24/18.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Rolfes, Vice Chair; Zeiger, Ranking Member; Billig, Hunt, Mullet and Pedersen.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senators Hawkins and Padden.
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS |
Staff: Sarian Scott (786-7729)
Background: High School Graduation Requirements. The Legislature has directed the State Board of Education to establish the state minimum high school graduation requirements within the parameters established in statute. School districts may adopt additional graduation requirements.
HSBP. Each student must have a HSBP to guide the student's high school course taking and prepare the student for postsecondary education, training, or career after high school. The HSBP must be initiated for each student in seventh or eighth grade. Prior to initiating the plan each student must be administered a career interest and skills inventory. Since 2009, the HSBP has been a high school graduation requirement. The determination of whether a student has met this graduation requirement remains with the school district. A district may establish additional local requirements for the HSBP.
Dual Credit Programs. Dual credit programs allow students to take college-level courses while still in high school. Students may become eligible for the awarding of college credit based on scores obtained in the year-end examinations and through taking college-level classes either in their high school, or at colleges or universities.
College Bound Scholarship. In 2007, the Washington State Legislature established the College Bound Scholarship. This program was created to provide state financial aid to low-income students who may not consider college a possibility due to the cost. The scholarship covers tuition—at comparable public college rates, some fees, and a small book allowance. The program is administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council.
To be eligible for a scholarship:
students in seventh or eighth grade whose family meets the income guidelines that are established based on household size, must complete an application for the scholarship before the end of their eighth grade year; and
students must make and meet the College Bound Pledge to graduate from a Washington State high school with a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher; have no felony convictions; apply and be accepted to a college; and submit the free application for for Federal Student Aid or the Washington Application for State Financial Aid.
Summary of Bill: The HSBP. The HSBP must be provided in the student's parents' or guardians' native language if the language is one of the two most frequently spoken non-English language of students in the school district.
Additional minimum elements are added to the HSBP, including identifying dual credit programs, information about the college bound scholarship program, and information about options for satisfying the state and local graduation requirements.
OSPI must work with students, parents, school districts and others to identify best practices for HSBPs. The best practices must be posted on the OSPI website by September 1, 2019, and may be revised periodically.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: HSBP is a student's roadmap for the future. Things that are not currently highlighted to be in the roadmap include information on dual credit courses and the college bound scholarship. This information would be helpful for students to have to help them plan. It is important for parents be to involved in the development and updating of the HSBPs, so this bill requires that the HSBP be provided to parents in the parent's native language when it is one of the more dominant languages spoken in the district. OSPI has a HSBP template currently available in ten languages, including English, on the agency's website. The Washington School Information Processing Cooperative has developed a digital HSBP tool in 200 languages that is available to middle and high schools for a fee. Most schools currently have access to that tool. OSPI is happy to work to identify best practices because we agree that best practices will be helpful to school districts.
Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self, Prime Sponsor; Danise Ackelson, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): No one.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): PRO: This is an expansion work from last year. One caution is that in 7th and 8th grade, all students must have a high school and beyond plan and that is unfunded.
Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Dave Mastin, OSPI.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.