SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5291

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 January 31, 2017

Title: An act relating to creating a pilot project to provide middle and junior high school students strategic and intentional academic support beyond the traditional school day to promote accountability and responsibility and to ensure high school readiness.

Brief Description: Creating a pilot project to provide middle and junior high school students strategic and intentional academic support beyond the traditional school day.

Sponsors: Senators Pearson, McCoy, Warnick, Chase, Hobbs, Fain, Hasegawa, Palumbo, Wellman, Hunt, Kuderer and Conway.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/31/17.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes a three-year pilot project to create learning labs in up to ten public middle and junior high schools strategically placed within the state.
Defines learning labs as a program that provides additional academic support to students beyond the the traditional school day.
Tasks the Department of Commerce (Commerce) with administering and an academic support entity with implementing the pilot project.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)

Background: In 2014, the Legislature defined expanded learning opportunities as school-based programs or community-based programs provided in partnership with schools that provide extended learning and enrichment for students beyond the traditional school day, week, or calendar. Additionally, an Expanded Learning Opportunities Council was established to provide guidance for a statewide expanded learning opportunities system.

Commerce administers federal, state, and local grant and loan programs.

The United States Internal Revenue Code exempts nonprofit organizations from some federal income taxes when the organization's purpose is charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.

Summary of Bill: A pilot project is established to create learning labs in public middle and junior high schools. Learning lab means a program that provides additional academic support to middle or junior high school students beyond the traditional school day. A learning lab is housed in a room with computer access such as a library or computer room and is led by a lab director. Lab director means a part-time independent contractor who has teaching experience or the equivalent. The lab director supervises and is responsible for a learning lab. The lab director plays an active role in supporting student achievement through working with parents, monitoring grades, rewarding success, and creating an academic culture.

The three-year pilot project must start at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. The purpose of the pilot project is to provide middle and junior high school students with an organized and consistent learning environment to support them in meeting or exceeding grade level standards, obtaining the skills to be successful high school students, and being well prepared for postsecondary education.

Commerce must administer the pilot project. No more than 4 percent of the funding provided for the pilot project may be used by Commerce for administrative purposes.

An academic support entity must implement the pilot project in up to ten middle or junior high schools strategically placed within the state. Academic support entity means an entity that is exempt from taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code and that partners with public middle or junior high schools to provide academic support beyond the traditional school day within the schools. The academic support entity must have a proven track record of successfully implementing learning labs and have a program operation manual.

Middle and junior high schools participating in the pilot project must agree to partner with the academic support entity. Each participating school must have a learning lab that is open to students from after school until 6 p.m. each day that school is in session unless this time has to be adjusted. Each participating school must have a lab director who is contracted with district input, trained, and supported by the academic support entity that implements the pilot project. This training must include the following topics:

involving parents and guardians;
monitoring grades and state test scores;
recognizing student academic improvement;
recruiting and training learning lab volunteers; and
teaming with students, parents and teachers.

Commerce and the academic support entity must submit a report regarding the pilot project to the governor, the appropriate committees of the legislature, and the superintendent of public instruction. The report must be submitted by December 1, 2020, and include a recommendation on whether the pilot project should be continued, expanded, or discontinued.

The provisions establishing this pilot project are set to expire June 30, 2021.

Appropriation: $600,000 GF-S to Commerce in FY 2018, FY 2019, and FY 2020.

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.