SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5227

BYSenators Saling, Bauer, Patterson, Stratton, Smitherman, Williams, Lee and Hansen

Establishing a state writing project to train educators.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 19, 1989; February 6, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5227 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  February 6, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

One of the goals in the Higher Education Coordinating Board's master plan is "to increase efficiency through better K-12-higher education curriculum articulation."  A concern has also been expressed regarding academic preparation and the need for remediation.  Development of writing ability is crucial to successful performance in both the labor market and postsecondary education.  Models for effective academic collaboration with K-12 educators do exist.  The Puget Sound Writing Program at the University of Washington and a new smaller program at Washington State University/University of Idaho work with the teacher as learner practitioner, researcher, and colleague.  The program currently provides training for 24 teacher/consultants per year, inservice offerings for over 800 teachers per year, and provides improvement in the writing instruction received by over 25,000 common school students per year.

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 and 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.  A biennial report to the Governor, the Legislature and SPI 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 board may delegate program administration to a state supported institution of higher education.  The criteria to be used when evaluating each proposal is outlined and the sum of $350,000 for the writing project is appropriated.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation of $350,000 is deleted.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Bob Maier, WEA; Linda J. Clifton, PSWP; Kathy Reim, WEA; Mark Jury, WEA; Bonnie C. Hill; James M. Watson, Highline School District; Richard J. Dunne, English Dept. Chair, UW