SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6764

BYSenators Rinehart, Bailey and Fleming

Creating community support programs in education.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1990; February 2, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6764 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Benitz, Fleming, Gaspard, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                February 7, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Using community resources to provide services for students after school, and encouraging community involvement at school sites are suggestions for improving the education system.  Community involvement models that have been tried in some communities include using volunteer tutors after school in libraries and having public employees volunteer in schools.  Adults have also served as mentors by volunteering to share specific skills such as athletic skills.

SUMMARY:

Three volunteer programs are created:  the Learn-in-Libraries Program, the Public Employee Tutors Program, and the Mentor Athletes Program.

The Learn-in-Libraries Program provides grants to local libraries through the State Library Commission to develop and implement after school programs for children to improve literacy skills, encourage reading, and provide homework assistance.  Grant applicants are encouraged to develop programs that use older adult volunteers.  The State Library Commission reports to the Legislature on the results of the program.

The Public Employee Tutors Program permits public employees to volunteer at a public school or an early childhood education and assistance program.  The state agency or higher education institution or related board donates the employee's time under rules adopted by the State Personnel Board and the Higher Education Personnel Board and related boards.  The rules shall be adopted in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The Mentor Athletes Program is created to bring visiting athletes into both elementary and secondary public schools to help encourage participation in physical education programs and sports activities.  The visiting athletes are representative of groups underrepresented in athletics at the secondary school level.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction conducts the program and may contract with educational service districts to provide the services.

An appropriation of $250,000 is made to the State Library Commission for the Learn-in- Library Program and $49,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Mentor Athlete Program.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The portions of the bill establishing a Mentor Athletes Program and a Public Employee Tutors Program are deleted.  The appropriation is deleted and the bill is contingent on funding in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   PRO:  Liz Stroup, Seattle Public Library; Mark Allen, Washington Library Association; Hans M. Rasmussen, Generations United-Kent Valley Services; Bob Schabot, WA State PTA: Evelyn Chapman, City of Seattle