HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1112

BYRepresentatives Spanel, Miller, Jacobsen, Van Luven, K. Wilson, Valle, Prince, Peery, Brekke, Locke, Betrozoff, Nelson and Winsley

Establishing a state writing project to train educators.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Inslee, Jesernig, Miller, H. Myers, Prince, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FEBRUARY 16, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Puget Sound Writing Program at the University of Washington, and a new smaller program at Washington State University and the University of Idaho, are examples of successful collaborative programs between the common schools and institutions of higher education.  The programs are designed to improve writing instruction in the common schools and community colleges by encouraging participating teachers to write, to research, and to share their knowledge in a variety of formal and informal ways.

The Puget Sound Writing Project has three phases:  a Summer Institute, followup meetings for Institute students, and inservice programs. The program is funded by school districts, tuition from enrolled participants, and the University of Washington.  Since its inauguration in 1978, the program has trained 250 teachers in its Summer Institute.  These teachers have, in turn, offered inservice courses to at least 3,000 of their colleagues.  The number of students directly affected by the program is estimated to be at least 7,500.

SUMMARY:

A program is created to assist common school and college faculty in their efforts to improve the writing skills of Washington students.  The Washington State Writing Project is established.  The program will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The board will select proposals for funding through a competitive process, giving preference to proposals that are from sites for the National Writing Project.  The board will also appoint an advisory committee of educators to assist in selecting the proposals to be funded and in establishing criteria and procedures for evaluating the results of selected projects.  The board may delegate program administration to a state supported institution of higher education.

A biennial report to the Governor, the Legislature and the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required.  The report shall include an evaluation of the project and a recommendation on whether project funding should continue through the next biennium.  The criteria to be used when evaluating each proposal is outlined and the sum of $350,000 for the writing project is appropriated.

Appropriation:    $350,000.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Bob Maier and Mark Jury, Washington Education Association; Richard Dunn, University of Washington.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The Puget Sound Writing Project has had a dramatic, positive impact on teachers who have participated in the program.  One district has revitalized its entire curriculum based on program results.  Student performance improved measurably, based on assessments performed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and feedback on the performance of recent graduates provided by faculty at Western Washington University.  The program encourages participants to write, collaborate with colleagues, share strategies, and use their new knowledge in the classroom each day.  New sources of funding are needed to expand the program statewide.  The program is part of the Washington Education Association's legislative package.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.