1820-S

AN ACT Relating to school-to-work transitions; amending RCW 28A.630.862, 28A.630.864, 28A.630.866, 28A.630.868, 28A.630.870, 28A.630.874, 28A.630.876, 28A.630.878, and 28A.630.880; adding a new section to chapter 28A.630 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 28A.630.860; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that demonstrated relevancy and practical application of school work is essential to improving student learning and to increasing the ability of students to transition successfully to the world of work. Employers have an increasing need for highly skilled people whether they are graduating from high school, a community college, a four-year university, or a technical college.

(2) The legislature further finds that the school experience must prepare students to make informed career direction decisions at appropriate intervals in their educational progress. The elimination of rigid tracking into educational programs will increase students' posthigh school options and will expose students to a broad range of interrelated career and educational opportunities.

(3) The legislature further finds that student motivation and performance can be greatly increased by the demonstration of practical application of course work content and its relevancy to potential career directions.

(4) The legislature further finds that secondary schools should provide students with multiple, flexible educational pathways. Each educational pathway should:

(a) Prepare students to demonstrate both core competencies common for all students and competencies in a career or interest area;

(b) Integrate academic and vocational education into a single curriculum; and

(5) The purpose of RCW 28A.630.862 through 28A.630.880 and section 11 of this act is to equip students with improved school-to-work transition opportunities through the establishment of school-to-work transition model projects throughout the state.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.630.862 and 1992 c 137 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

There is established in the office of the superintendent of public instruction ((~~an academic and vocational integration development~~)) a school-to-work transitions program which shall fund and coordinate ((~~pilot~~)) projects to develop model secondary school ((~~projects~~)) programs. The projects shall combine academic and vocational education into a single instructional system that is responsive to the educational needs of all students in secondary schools and shall provide multiple educational pathway options for all secondary students. Goals of the projects within the program shall include at a minimum:

(1) Integration of vocational and academic instructional curriculum into a single curriculum;

(2) Providing each student with a choice of multiple, flexible educational pathways based on the student's career or interest area;

(3) Emphasis on increased vocational((~~, personal,~~)) and academic guidance and counseling for students as an essential component of the student's high school experience;

((~~(3)~~)) (4) Development of student essential academic learning requirements, methods of accurately measuring student performance, and goals for improved student learning;

(5) Partnership with local employers and employees to incorporate work sites as part of work-based learning experiences;

(6) Active participation of educators in the planning, implementation, and operation of the project, including increased opportunities for professional development and in-service training; and

((~~(4)~~)) (7) Active participation by employers, private and public community service providers, parents, and community members in the development and operation of the project.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.630.864 and 1992 c 137 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop a process for schools or school districts to apply to participate in the ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) school-to-work transitions program. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall review and select projects for grant awards, and monitor and evaluate the ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) program.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction, in selecting projects for grant awards, shall give additional consideration to schools or school districts whose proposals include collaboration with middle schools or junior high schools to develop school-to-work transition objectives. Middle school or junior high school programs may include career awareness and exploration, preparation for school-to-school transition, and preparation for educational pathway decisions.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction, in selecting projects for grant awards, shall give additional consideration to schools or school districts whose proposals include a tech prep site selected under P.L. 101-392 or other articulation agreements with a community or technical college.

(4) The superintendent of public instruction, in selecting projects for grant awards, shall give additional consideration to schools or school districts whose proposals include the following elements: Paid student employment in an occupational area with growing labor market demand, instruction on the job from a mentor, demonstration of competency standards for program completion, and a contract to be signed by the participating student, the student's parent or legal guardian, the participating employer, and an education representative.

(5) The superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education may develop a process for teacher preparation programs to apply to participate in the school-to-work transitions program. The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education may review and select projects for grant awards. Teacher preparation grants shall be used to improve teacher preparation in school-to-work transitions, including course work related to integrated curriculum, tech prep concepts, updating technical skills, improving school and private sector partnerships, and assessing students.

Sec. 4. RCW 28A.630.866 and 1992 c 137 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint a ten-member task force on ((~~academic and vocational integration~~)) school-to-work transitions. The task force shall include at least one representative from the work force training and education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges. The task force shall advise the superintendent of public instruction in the development of the process for applying to participate in the ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) school-to-work transitions program, in the review and selection of projects under RCW 28A.630.864, and the monitoring and evaluation of the projects.

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.630.868 and 1992 c 137 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall administer RCW 28A.630.860 through RCW 28A.630.880.

(2) The ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) school-to-work transitions projects may be conducted for up to six years, if funds are provided.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.630.870 and 1992 c 137 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction may accept, receive, and administer for the purposes of RCW 28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880 such gifts, grants, and contributions as may be provided from public and private sources for the purposes of RCW 28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880.

(2) The ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) school-to-work transitions program account is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The superintendent of public instruction shall deposit in the account all moneys received under this section. Moneys in the account may be spent only for the purposes of 28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880. Disbursements from this account shall be on the authorization of the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee. The account is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

Sec. 7. RCW 28A.630.874 and 1992 c 137 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction, in coordination with the state board of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, the work force training and education coordinating board, and the higher education coordinating board, shall provide technical assistance to selected schools and shall develop a process that coordinates and facilitates linkages among participating school districts, secondary schools, junior high schools, middle schools, technical colleges, and colleges and universities.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education may adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary to implement its duties under RCW 28A.630.860 through RCW 28A.630.880.

Sec. 8. RCW 28A.630.876 and 1992 c 137 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall report to the education committees of the legislature on the progress of the schools for the ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) school-to-work transitions program by December 15 of each odd-numbered year.

(2) Each school district selected to participate in the academic and vocational integration development program shall submit an annual report to the superintendent of public instruction on the progress of the ((~~pilot~~)) project as a condition of receipt of continued funding.

Sec. 9. RCW 28A.630.878 and 1992 c 137 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction, through the state clearinghouse for education information, shall collect and disseminate to all school districts and other interested parties information about the ((~~academic and vocational integration development pilot~~)) school-to-work transitions projects.

Sec. 10. RCW 28A.630.880 and 1992 c 137 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

RCW 28A.630.860 through 28A.630.880 may be known and cited as the ((~~academic and vocational integration development~~)) school-to-work transitions program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 28A.630 RCW to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 28A.630.862 through 28A.630.880.

(1) "Integration of vocational and academic instruction" means an educational program that combines vocational and academic concepts into a single curriculum to increase the relevancy of course work, to strengthen and increase academic standards, and to enable students to apply knowledge and skills to career and educational objectives.

(2) "School-to-work transition" means a restructuring effort which provides multiple learning options and seamless integrated pathways to increase all students' opportunities to pursue their career and educational interests.

(3) "Work-based learning" means a competency-based educational experience that coordinates and integrates classroom instruction with structured, work site employment in which the student receives occupational training that advances student knowledge and skills in essential academic learning requirements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. RCW 28A.630.860 and 1992 c 137 s 1 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. The sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 3 of this act. The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) A maximum of two hundred thousand dollars is provided solely for the purposes of section 3(4) of this act.

(2) One hundred fifty thousand dollars is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide administration and staffing to coordinate the program established under this act and to disseminate information on the model projects.

(3) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide grants to community and technical colleges for the development of integrated curriculum for tech prep programs. The superintendent shall award grants to community and technical colleges identified in selected schools to work transition projects as participants in the tech prep component of the project plan.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. 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.