HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1820

                       As Passed House

                       March 11, 1993

Title:  An act relating to school-to-work transitions.

Brief Description:  Creating the school‑to‑work transitions program.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Dorn, Brough, Brumsickle, Heavey, Vance, Mastin, R. Meyers, Jones, Peery, Cothern, Campbell, Orr, Holm, Carlson, Springer, Stevens, Jacobsen, Thomas, Pruitt, Foreman, Finkbeiner, Lemmon, Leonard, Rayburn, Riley, Patterson, Conway, King, Johanson, Roland, Tate, Karahalios, Mielke, Eide, Wolfe, Romero, Edmondson, Morris, Shin, G. Fisher, Horn, L. Johnson, Thibaudeau, Kremen, Basich, Miller, J. Kohl, H. Myers, Long, Cooke, Fuhrman, Van Luven, Talcott, Forner, Ballasiotes, Hansen, Kessler, Silver and Wood.)

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, March 2, 1993, DPS;

Appropriations, March 6,1993, DPS(ED-A APP);

  Passed House, March 11, 1993, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; and Vance.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Stevens.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Education be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended by Committee on Appropriations do pass.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Linville; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jack Daray (786-7178).

Background:  The 1992 Legislature established the Academic and Vocational Development grant program.  The purpose of the program is to fund projects in which academic and vocational subjects are integrated into a single instructional system.  The intent is to make school more relevant and practical, and increase the ability of students to make the transition successfully to the world of work.

A total of $98,000 was appropriated for the 1991-93 biennium for the program.  Thirty-five applications were submitted, with four projects being funded (Bethel, Camas, Central Valley, and Grand Coulee School Districts).

Summary of Bill:  The Academic and Vocational Development grant program is expanded and renamed the School-to-Work Transitions Program.

Three project goals are added:

-- Provide each student with a choice of multiple, flexible educational pathways based on the student's career or interest area;

-- Develop student essential learning requirements, methods of accurately measuring student performance, and goals for improved student learning; and

-- Develop partnerships with local businesses and employers to incorporate the work site as a learning experience.

In selecting projects, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is directed to give additional consideration to proposals that include:  (1) collaboration with middle schools or junior high schools; (2) a "tech prep" site; and (3) work-based learning opportunities.

SPI is permitted to develop a process for teacher certification programs to apply to participate in the School-to-Work Transitions program.  These grants would be used to improve teacher preparation in areas related to school-to-work transitions.

If funds are not provided in the budget, the act will be null and void.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 22, 1993.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.  However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  (Education) This will make help make the instruction in our schools more relevant to our students, and better prepare students for life after high school.

(Appropriations) None.

Testimony Against:  (Education) None.

(Appropriations) None.

Witnesses:  (Education) Ellen O'Brien Saunders, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (supports); Thomas Lopp, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (supports); and Kathleen Lopp, Washington Vocational Association (supports).

(Appropriations) None.