SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6337

BYSenators Benitz, Bailey, Rinehart, Gaspard, Madsen, Owen, Anderson, von Reichbauer, Moore, Metcalf, Sutherland, Craswell, Murray, Newhouse, Bauer, McMullen, Vognild, Warnke, Johnson, Barr, Saling, Kreidler, Bender, Fleming, Talmadge, Conner and Lee

Changing provisions relating to technological and vocational education.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 10, 1990; January 18, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6337 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  January 19, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990; January 25, 1990

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6337 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Ken Kanikeberg (786-7715)

                  January 29, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, JANUARY 25, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Experts from business, labor, industry, and education agree that the state of Washington faces major shifts in the demands of the labor market and the preparation of its workforce.  Technological changes are happening rapidly.  The following changes have been suggested to help the education system better prepare students to enter the workforce of the twenty-first century:  encouraging innovations in technology and vocational education programs; providing for the integration of technology in education; improving the vocational student teacher ratio and setting standards for extended or supplemental contracts; developing course equivalencies; and improving equipment.

SUMMARY:

Innovations in Vocational Education for the Twenty-First Century.  The Innovations in Vocational Education for the Twenty-first Century Program is created to allow selected schools and school districts, educational service districts, interdistrict cooperatives, public vocational-technical institutes, skills centers, and community colleges to develop innovative vocational programs through encouraging collaboration and authorizing waivers of some statutes and rules.  The process for selecting grant recipients is developed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the State Board of Education and the State Board for Community College Education.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction administers the program.

Pilot projects receive funding for two years, but may be extended by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for up to six years.  Annual reports to the Superintendent are required.  Up to 21 projects may be selected by the Superintendent each biennium.  Initial projects will be implemented during the 1990-91 school year.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will review entrance requirements for the state's colleges and universities and may waive certain entrance requirements and establish course equivalencies.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction reports to the Legislature by January 15, 1991, and every two years thereafter. The program ends June 30, 1997.

Vocational Education Funding Formula.  Beginning with the 1990-91 school year, the formula for allocating state funds for basic education shall include a ratio of .92 certificated instructional staff and .08 certificated administrative staff to each 16.67 annual average full-time equivalent students in grades nine through twelve enrolled in secondary vocational education programs approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  Increases in funds shall be used to provide additional state support for secondary vocational education programs.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall adopt by rule general program approval standards for secondary vocational programs.  The standards shall include provisions regarding the use of extended or supplemental contracts for certificated vocational education instructors.

Local Planning for Vocational Education Including Purchase of Equipment.  To be eligible to receive state funds for secondary vocational education programs, local school districts, skills centers, educational service districts, and public vocational technical institutes shall consult with local advisory committees on vocational education.  Local advisory committees shall be composed of members representative of the local community.

The local advisory committee shall provide advice, support, and assistance on vocational education programs and assist in the development of vocational education program improvement plans.  School districts are eligible to apply to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for funds to update equipment for secondary vocational education programs if they have developed program improvement plans.  The plans must be revised every two years and shall be part of the current vocational education planning process.

Funds shall be used to upgrade equipment.

Technology in Education.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction provides school districts with services including integrating technology into the curriculum and training teachers and administrators in the use of current and new technologies.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall make awards to teachers for selected school improvement and research projects on the use of technology in education.

Course Equivalencies--Admission Standards to Four-year Institutions:  The Higher Education Coordinating Board and each four-year institution of higher education are required to recognize the value and importance of vocational education courses in developing admission standards.  Efforts shall be made to designate applicable vocational education courses as course equivalencies.

EFFECT OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

$50,000 is appropriated to provide for technical assistance to local education advisory committees.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board's admission standards shall include recognition of the use of vocational education courses having academic equivalencies to meet admission requirements to four-year institutions.

An additional $57,202 is appropriated to provide a minimum vocational equipment grant of $3,000 for each school district.

Appropriation:    Vocational programs for the 21st century: $1,250,000; student/teacher ratio: $4,500,000; vocational equipment:  $6,057,202; technical assistance to local advisory councils:  $50,000;  technology in education:  $4,000,000; extended or supplemental contracts:  $4,000,0000.  Total:  $19,857,202.

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

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

EFFECT OF WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

All appropriation sections are deleted.  Enactment of sections relating to "Innovations in Vocational Education for the Twenty-First Century," vocational education funding formula revisions, extended day contracts, equipment purchases, and the technology in education expansion and grants are contingent on funding in the budget.

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION:  PRO:  Ray Shindler, Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association; Bill Olfert and Marilyn Ash, Council on Vocational Education; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors Association; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; Marilyn Baker, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Jan Carlson, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Tim Strege, Council of Vocational-Technical Institutes; Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association; Gerald Butts, Seattle Public Schools Vocational Education Administrators; Don McCrosley, Seattle Schools Vocational Advisory Committee; Rose Marie Salter, Bethel School District  103 Advisory Committee; Erlene Polick, Orting High School  344; Donny Shy, Washington State PTA; Dr. Jack Star, Highline School District; Bill Fleet, Marriott Director of Human Resources; Kathleen Preston, Executive Director, Washington Vocational Association; CON:  Dr. Ronald Dear, Council of Faculty Representatives

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  PRO:  Gerald Butts, Director, Voc. Tec. Education (Seattle); Ronald Lemon, Chair, Drafting Advisory Council (Seattle); Don McCroskey, Chairman, Business Advisory Board; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; Nils Laddrud, President, Washington Association of Vocational Administrators; Kathy Preston, Executive Director, Vocational Education Association; Jan Carlson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction