SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6133

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 Passed Senate, February 8, 2018

Title: An act relating to expanding statewide career and technical education course equivalency options.

Brief Description: Expanding statewide career and technical education course equivalency options.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Zeiger, Wellman, Keiser, Hasegawa and Kuderer; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/16/18, 1/23/18 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 2/08/18, 46-0.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

  • Changes the content areas in which career and technical education (CTE) courses may be approved as equivalent to academic courses for the purposes of high school graduation.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6133 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Rolfes, Vice Chair; Zeiger, Ranking Member; Billig, Hawkins, Hunt, Mullet, Padden, Pedersen and Rivers.

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background: The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) was directed to develop a list of CTE courses with content in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) equivalent to academic science or mathematics courses that meet high school graduation requirements.

The list was to be developed before the 2015-16 school year. OSPI may periodically update or revise the list.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: The development of CTE equivalency courses is changed from those courses with STEM content equivalent to academic mathematics and science courses to those CTE courses equivalent to academic courses in English language arts, mathematics, science, technology, engineering, social studies, arts, world languages, or health and physical education.

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 on Original Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill changes the list of CTE courses that are equivalent to academic science or math courses. The list was limited to STEM and is expanded to include English language arts, social studies, arts world languages and other subject areas. This will give a wider array of choices to students and families. OSPI requested this bill to increase the flexibility for student choice to meet their high school graduation requirements while still reflecting their career plans.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Hans Zeiger, Prime Sponsor; Rebecca Wallace, Executive Director, OSPI/CTE.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.