H-138                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1473

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Basich, Peery, Dorn, McLean, Belcher, Cole, Wineberry, Scott, Ebersole,K. Wilson, Anderson, Pruitt, Rasmussen and Brekke

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committees on Education/Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to the development of curricula for enhancing self-esteem and personal and social responsibility for at-risk children; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The development of self-esteem is important for the success of a child in all aspects of life.  It is important that school districts aid at-risk children in the development of a strong self-image and sense of personal and social responsibility.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The superintendent of public instruction may grant funds to school districts that have developed a district program for the development of self-esteem and personal and social responsibility for the students in their district.  The purpose of the grants shall be to further develop a self-esteem and personal and social responsibility curriculum by each district, to distribute the curricula to all other districts as model programs, and to have representatives of the selected district work with the staff from the office of the superintendent of public instruction in the development of a model state-wide self-esteem and personal and social responsibility development curriculum.

          (2) Interested school districts shall file an application for funds that includes the following:

          (a) A description of the district's self-esteem and personal and social responsibility program including the grades involved, number of teachers trained, results of the evaluation of the program if one has been conducted, use of commercially prepared materials, and community involvement;

          (b) A letter of commitment from the school district to contribute to the development of a state-wide model self-esteem and personal and social responsibility curriculum and for the field testing of the curriculum; and

          (c) An estimate of the cost for preparation and publication of the district's existing self-esteem and personal and social responsibility curriculum and distribution to all other school districts within the state and the commitment of time of staff to be involved in the development of the state- wide curriculum.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules to implement the self-esteem and personal and social responsibility curriculum project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     To advise the superintendent on the adoption of criteria for the award of grant moneys and selection of participating school districts, the superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an advisory committee composed of representatives of at least the following groups:  School directors, administrators, principals, teachers, and parents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     This act shall expire June 30, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.  No more than forty-nine thousand five hundred dollars may be used to fund a staff coordinator for the project within the office of the superintendent of public instruction.