HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2718

BYRepresentatives Van Luven, Jacobsen, Fraser, Prentice, Miller, Beck, H. Sommers, Todd, Ferguson, P. King, Wang, Crane, May, Doty, Wood, Wineberry, Betrozoff and Hankins

Establishing the Washington state Pacific Rim language scholarship.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Bennett, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Jesernig, Miller, Prince and Rector.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Recent studies indicate that students in the United States are not being taught the skills or knowledge needed to understand people and cultures in countries abroad.  For example, in a United Nations study of 30,000 10 to 14 year-olds in nine countries, students from the United States ranked next to last in their understanding of foreign cultures.  In addition, only 1 percent of the elementary school students in the United States are taught a foreign language.

A study by Jim Henson of Washington State University discovered that many education and business leaders believe that the United States can no longer afford to look on geography, languages and area studies as mere luxuries.  The leaders believe that, if the citizens of this country are to survive in an ever shrinking world, educators must begin to teach these subjects as basics.  They recommend that the curriculum for present and future teachers be strengthened in subject areas related to international studies.  These areas include international topics, languages, economics, and geography.

Three of every five university graduates in this country will work either directly in international trade, or for a company that is involved in some aspect of that trade.  For this reason, business leaders recommend that new graduates entering the workforce have some expertise in a foreign language and have an understanding and appreciation of international differences in geography, cultures, economics, and politics. Some of those leaders also expressed a preference for hiring graduates who have had some experience in traveling and living abroad.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED: The Washington State Pacific Rim Language Scholarship Program is created.  The program will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  The board's program responsibilities include selecting scholarship recipients with the help of a screening committee.  The responsibilities also include rule adoption, program publicity, and soliciting and accepting grants and donations.

The board will select up to four scholarship recipients yearly from each congressional district.  Each recipient must be a high school senior who is proficient in speaking either Spanish, Russian, Chinese, or Japanese.  The recipient must intend to enroll in a public or independent accredited college or university in the state within one year of high school graduation.

Of the four recipients selected in each district, one must be proficient in speaking Spanish, one in Russian, one in Japanese, and one in Chinese.  Using measures as objective as possible, the board will select students who have shown the most improvement in high school in their ability to speak their chosen language.

Each recipient will receive up to $1,000 when the recipient enrolls in a college or university.  The scholarship is not renewable.

By October 30, 1995, the board will report on the program to the Governor and the House and Senate Committees on Higher Education.  The report will include a recommendation on program expansion.

The program will expire on June 30, 1996.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The Higher Education Coordinating Board will report on the program, but the report will not include a program evaluation.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 25, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Rep. Steve Van Luven, prime sponsor; Barbara Theiss, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Kristin Henshaw, Bainbridge High School; Doug Kavanaugh and Hua Kejian, Capital High School.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Providing scholarships for students studying foreign languages will encourage more students to study foreign languages and more districts to offer those languages.  By creating these scholarships, the legislature will send a strong message that foreign studies are valued and encouraged in Washington.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.