SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5313

BYSenators Kiskaddon, Stratton and Gaspard

Providing programs to promote personal development and self-esteem.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1987; March 5, 1987

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5313 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

March 5, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Available research indicates that low self-esteem can manifest itself in a number of ways, including: Students dropping out of school; teenage pregnancies; alcohol and drug use and abuse; welfare dependence; and chronic criminal behavior. It is suggested that facilitating the collection and dissemination of information about the relationship between self-esteem and social behavior, including school performance, may contribute to reduced state expenditures for addressing certain social problems.

SUMMARY:

The Governor is directed to establish a 25-member temporary task force to promote self-esteem and personal and social responsibility. Members shall include the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a member of the State Board of Education, the Secretaries of the Departments of Corrections and Social and Health Services, the Commissioner of Employment Security, four legislators, and 16 persons appointed by the Governor.

The task force shall be responsible for: Promoting personal and public awareness of knowledge and programs which are most likely to be effective in building self-esteem to improve students' school performance; compiling a list of available research on the relationship between self-esteem and personal and social responsibility and social problems including the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs, welfare dependency, and crime and violence; and conducting a survey to identify model programs in Washington and other states which address the development of self-esteem and personal and social responsibility.

The task force shall submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations by July 1, 1989. The task force shall terminate July 1, 1989.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy and the state's public and private colleges and universities are encouraged to support or undertake research on issues concerning the relationship between self-esteem, student achievement, and individuals' social behavior.

Common school and higher education personnel are encouraged to apply for funds under the state grant program for school improvement and research projects to support projects demonstrating the relationship between improved self-esteem and student performance.

In approving teacher preparation programs the State Board of Education shall assure that teacher candidates receive instruction in how to create educational environments which contribute to the self-esteem of all persons and to positive human relationships.

Teachers are encouraged to use inservice and continuing education opportunities to review or become familiar with research on student learning styles, instructional strategies, how to promote the more effective use of inherent brain power, and ways in which the self-esteem of students and school personnel can be increased.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may appoint an advisory committee to address issues relating to the development of students' personal confidence and school performance. The committee may be supported only from nonstate funds as may be available from public or private sources.

The SPI is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and contributions provided for the support of the advisory committee and the student development revolving fund is created for the deposit of funds received by the Superintendent.

The name of the State Clearinghouse for Educational Information is changed to the State Clearinghouse for Education Information, Resources and Research. The SPI is directed to use the clearinghouse to collect and disseminate information about: existing model programs to enhance students' personal confidence; and school organizational systems which tend to support the development of closer student-teacher relationships.

The SPI is granted rule-making authority.

In approving teacher preparation programs, the State Board of Education shall assure that teacher candidates receive instruction in how to create educational environments which contribute to the personal confidence of students.

The following provisions of the bill are deleted: The sections directing the Governor to establish a temporary task force to promote self-esteem and personal and social responsibility and delineating the responsibilities of the task force; and encouraging teachers to use in-service and continuing education opportunities to review research on student learning styles, instructional strategies, etc.

The appropriation for the Superintendent of Public Instruction is set at $49,000.

Fiscal Note: available

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Bill Kiskaddon, sponsor; Bunny Wilburn, Early Childhood Education Specialist; Bill Wallace, Human Resource Communications, Inc.; J.B. Preston, Editor/Publisher, Special Child Publications; Tom Eisenmann, Association of Washington School Principals; Ben Edlund