2447 AAS 3/4/94 S5501.1
HB 2447 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Education
ADOPTED 3/4/94
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1. RCW 28A.215.100 and 1985 c 418 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
It is the intent of the
legislature to establish ((a preschool)) an early childhood state
education and assistance program. This special assistance program is a
voluntary enrichment program to help prepare some children to enter the common
school system and shall be offered only as funds are available. This program
is not a part of the basic program of education which must be fully funded by
the legislature under Article IX, section 1 of the state Constitution.
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.215.110 and 1990 c 33 s 213 are each amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908.
(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW 28A.215.140.
(2) (("At
risk" means a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family
circumstances would qualify that child for eligibility under the federal head
start program.
(3))) "Department" means the department of
community, trade, and economic development.
(((4))) (3)
"Eligible child" means ((an at-risk child as defined in this
section)) a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family income is
at or below one hundred percent of the federal poverty level, as published
annually by the federal department of health and human services, and includes a
child whose family is eligible for public assistance, and who is not a
participant in a federal or state program providing ((like educational))
comprehensive services and may include children who are eligible under
rules adopted by the department if the number of such children equals not more
than ten percent of the total enrollment in the ((preschool)) early
childhood program. Priority for enrollment shall be given to children
from families with the lowest income or to eligible children from families with
multiple needs.
(((5))) (4)
"Approved ((preschool)) programs" means those state-supported
education and special assistance programs which are recognized by the
department of community, trade, and economic development as meeting the
minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify under RCW
28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908 and are designated
as eligible for funding by the department under RCW 28A.215.160 and
28A.215.180.
(5) "Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support services.
(6) "Family support services" means providing opportunities for parents to:
(a) Actively participate in their child's early childhood program;
(b) Increase their knowledge of child development and parenting skills;
(c) Further their education and training;
(d) Increase their ability to use needed services in the community;
(e) Increase their self-reliance.
Sec. 3. 1988 c 174 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
The legislature finds
that the early childhood education and assistance program provides for the
educational, social, health, nutritional, and cultural development of children
at risk of failure when they reach school age. The long-term benefits to
society in the form of greater educational attainment, employment, and
projected lifetime earnings as well as the savings to be realized, from lower
crime rates, welfare support, and reduced teenage pregnancy, have been
demonstrated through lifelong research of at-risk children and ((preschool))
early childhood programs.
((The legislature
further finds that existing federal head start programs and state-supported
early childhood education programs provide services for less than one-third of
the eligible children in Washington.))
The legislature intends to encourage development of community partnerships for children at risk by authorizing a program of voluntary grants and contributions from business and community organizations to increase opportunities for children to participate in early childhood education.
Sec. 4. RCW 28A.215.120 and 1988 c 174 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
The department of
community, trade, and economic development shall administer a
state-supported ((preschool)) early childhood education and
assistance program to assist eligible children with educational, social,
health, nutritional, and cultural development to enhance their opportunity for
success in the common school system. Eligible children shall be admitted to
approved ((preschool)) early childhood programs to the extent
that the legislature provides funds, and additional eligible children may be
admitted to the extent that grants and contributions from community sources
provide sufficient funds for a program equivalent to that supported by state
funds.
Sec. 5. RCW 28A.215.130 and 1988 c 174 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
Approved ((preschool))
early childhood programs shall receive state-funded support through the
department. ((School districts, and existing head start grantees in
cooperation with school districts)) Public or private nonsectarian
organizations, including, but not limited to school districts, educational
service districts, community and technical colleges, local governments, or
nonprofit organizations, are eligible to participate as providers of the
state ((preschool)) early childhood program. ((School
districts may contract with other governmental or nongovernmental nonsectarian
organizations to conduct a portion of the state program.)) Funds appropriated
for the state program shall be used to continue to operate existing programs
or to establish new or expanded ((preschool)) early childhood
programs, and shall not be used to supplant federally supported head start
programs. Funds obtained by providers through voluntary grants or
contributions from individuals, agencies, corporations, or organizations may be
used to expand or enhance preschool programs so long as program standards
established by the department are maintained, but shall not be used to supplant
federally supported head start programs or state-supported ((preschool))
early childhood programs. Persons applying to conduct the ((preschool))
early childhood program shall identify targeted groups and the number of
children to be served, program components, the qualifications of instructional
and special staff, the source and amount of grants or contributions from
sources other than state funds, facilities and equipment support, and
transportation and personal care arrangements.
Sec. 6. RCW 28A.215.150 and 1988 c 174 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
The department shall
adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW for the administration of the ((preschool))
early childhood program. ((Federal head start program criteria,
including set aside provisions for the)) Approved early childhood
programs shall conduct needs assessments of their service area, identify any
targeted groups of children, to include but not be limited to children of
seasonal and migrant farmworkers and native American populations living either
on or off reservation, ((to the extent practicable, shall be considered as
guidelines for the state preschool early childhood assistance program)) and
provide to the department a service delivery plan, to the extent practicable,
that addresses these targeted populations.
The department in
developing rules for the ((preschool)) early childhood program
shall consult with the advisory committee, and shall consider such factors as
coordination with existing head start and other ((preschool)) early
childhood programs, the preparation necessary for instructors,
qualifications of instructors, adequate space and equipment, and special transportation
needs. The rules shall specifically require the ((preschool)) early
childhood programs to provide for parental involvement ((at a level not
less than that provided under the federal head start program criteria)) in
participation with their child's program, in local program policy decisions, in
development and revision of service delivery systems, and in parent education
and training.
Sec. 7. 1987 c 518 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
The long-term social,
community welfare, and economic interests of the state will be served by an
investment in our children. Conclusive studies and experiences show that
providing children with ((certain)) developmental experiences and providing
parents with effective parental ((guidance)) partnership,
empowerment, opportunities for involvement with their child's developmental
learning, and expanding parenting skills, learning, and training can
greatly improve ((their)) children's performance in school as
well as increase the likelihood of ((their)) children's success
as adults. National studies have also confirmed that special attention to, and
educational assistance for, children ((and)), their school
environment ((is)), and their families are the most effective ways
in which to meet the state's social and economic goals.
The legislature intends to enhance the readiness to learn of certain children and students by: Providing for an expansion of the state early childhood education and assistance program for children from low-income families and establishing an adult literacy program for certain parents; assisting school districts to establish elementary counseling programs; instituting a program to address learning problems due to drug and alcohol use and abuse; and establishing a program directed at students who leave school before graduation.
The legislature intends further to establish programs that will allow for parental, business, and community involvement in assisting the school systems throughout the state to enhance the ability of children to learn.
Sec. 8. RCW 28A.215.160 and 1988 c 174 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
The department shall
review applications from public or private nonsectarian organizations for state
funding of early childhood education and assistance programs and award funds ((on
a competitive basis)) as determined by department rules and based on
local community needs and demonstrated capacity to provide services.
Sec. 9. RCW 28A.215.170 and 1988 c 174 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
The governor shall
report to the legislature before each regular session of the legislature
convening in an odd-numbered year, on the ((merits of continuing and
expanding the preschool program or instituting other means of providing early
childhood development assistance. The)) current status of the program,
the state-wide need for early childhood program services, and the plans to
address these needs. The department shall consult with the office of the
superintendent of public instruction ((shall assist the governor)) in
the preparation of the biennial report and ((shall be consulted)) on all
issues of mutual concern addressed in ((said)) the report.
((If the governor
recommends the continuation of a state-funded preschool program, then)) The
governor's report shall include specific recommendations on at least the following
issues:
(1) The desired
relationships of a state-funded ((preschool)) early childhood
education and assistance program with the common school system;
(2) The types of children and their needs that the program should serve;
(3) The appropriate level
of state support for implementing a comprehensive ((preschool)) early
childhood education and assistance program for all eligible children,
including related programs to prepare instructors and provide facilities,
equipment, and transportation;
(4) The state administrative structure necessary to implement the program; and
(5) The establishment
of a system to examine and monitor the effectiveness of ((preschool)) early
childhood educational and assistance services for ((disadvantaged)) eligible
children to measure, among other elements, if possible, how the average
level of performance of children completing this program compare to the
average level of performance of all state students in their grade level, and to
the average level of performance of those ((at-risk)) eligible
students who ((do)) did not have access to this program. The
evaluation system shall examine how the percentage of these children needing
access to special education or remedial programs compares to the overall
percentage of children needing such services and compares to the percentage of
((at-risk)) eligible students who ((do)) did not
have access to this program needing such services.
Sec. 10. RCW 28A.215.180 and 1990 c 33 s 214 are each amended to read as follows:
For the purposes of RCW
28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908, the
department may award state support under RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.160 to
increase the numbers of eligible children assisted by the federal or
state-supported ((preschool)) early childhood programs in this
state ((by up to five thousand additional children)). Priority shall be
given to ((groups in)) those geographical areas which include a high
percentage of families qualifying under the ((federal "at risk"))
"eligible child" criteria. The overall program funding level
shall be based on an average grant per child consistent with state
appropriations made for program costs: PROVIDED, That programs addressing
special needs of selected groups or communities shall be recognized in the
department's rules.
Sec. 11. RCW 28A.215.200 and 1990 c 33 s 215 are each amended to read as follows:
The department may
solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests and devises for the use or benefit
of the ((preschool)) early childhood state education and
assistance program established by RCW 28A.215.100 through 28A.215.200 and
28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908. The department shall actively solicit support
from business and industry and from the federal government for the ((preschool))
state early childhood education and assistance program and shall assist
local programs in developing partnerships with the community for ((children-at-risk))
eligible children.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
HB 2447 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Education
ADOPTED 3/4/94
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "program;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 28A.215.100, 28A.215.110, 28A.215.120, 28A.215.130, 28A.215.150, 28A.215.160, 28A.215.170, 28A.215.180, and 28A.215.200; amending 1988 c 174 s 1 (uncodified); amending 1987 c 518 s 1 (uncodified); and providing an effective date."
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