S-464                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5227

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Saling, Bauer, Patterson, Stratton, Smitherman, Williams, Lee and Hansen

Read first time 1/18/89 and referred to Committee on Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to excellence in higher education; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the development of the ability to communicate through the written word is crucial to successful performance in the labor market and in secondary and postsecondary education. The legislature recognizes the need to significantly improve the writing skills of common school and college students to help them succeed in higher education and in their chosen professions.  The legislature intends to assist common school and college faculty in their efforts to improve the writing skills of Washington students by the creation of a cooperatively planned and funded program.  The program will be designed to train educators in techniques for teaching writing that incorporate the results of current research on writing processes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The Washington state writing project is established.  The project will be administered by the higher education coordinating board.  In administering the program, the board shall have the following powers and duties:

          (1) Select proposals for funding through a competitive process, giving preference to proposals that are sites for the national writing project;

          (2) Appoint an advisory committee of common school and college educators to assist in selecting the proposals to be funded and is establishing criteria and procedures for evaluating the results of selected projects;

          (3) Report to the governor, the legislature, and the superintendent of public instruction on the program by November 15 of each even-numbered year.  The report shall include an evaluation of the project, and a recommendation on whether funding for the project should continue through the next biennium;

          (4) May delegate the administration of the program to an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Criteria established for approval of any proposal shall include the extent to which:

          (1) The proposed project is modeled after the national writing project;

          (2) The proposed project is designed to systematically improve the writing skills of project participants, the teachers to be trained by participants, and the students attending common schools and postsecondary educational institutions;

          (3) The proposed project is designed to reach school and college personnel located in rural, urban, and suburban areas;

          (4) Participating schools, colleges, and universities intend to integrate the proposed writing project in institutional staff development programs;

          (5) Participating schools, colleges, and universities commit to the provision of support for the proposed project;

          (6) The proposed project uses participants as writing skills trainers for students and faculty of schools, colleges, and universities;

          (7) The proposed project provides opportunities for cooperation among various levels and segments of the common schools and postsecondary education;

          (8) The proposed project provides continuing training and support opportunities to project participants; and

          (9) The proposed project includes a method for evaluating participant and student progress using measures approved by the advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The sum of three 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 higher education coordinating board for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.