S-1748.1  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8409

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe, Kohl and Jacobsen

Read first time 02/25/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Creating a joint legislative advisory committee on female athletic coaches in public schools.

    WHEREAS, Young women who participate in organized athletic programs have statistically lower rates of teenage pregnancy, drug involvement, dropping out of high school, being victims of domestic violence, and mental health problems; and

    WHEREAS, Participation rates of young women in organized athletic programs in Washington public schools continue to be lower than participation rates for young men; and

    WHEREAS, Female coaches can serve as positive role models for young women and dispel stereotypes and expectations about women and sports; and

    WHEREAS, The number of female athletic coaches in Washington public schools continues to be lower than the number of male athletic coaches;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint legislative advisory committee on female athletic coaches in public schools be established; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall study and make recommendations to the legislature on the recruitment and retention of female athletic coaches in Washington public schools.  The study shall examine causes of the unequal number of female versus male athletic coaches, and shall consider solutions including, but not limited to:  Creating a clearinghouse for female coaches, changing certification requirements, providing incentives in higher education for future female coaches, and modifying the recruitment and hiring procedures for athletic coaches; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint eleven members to the committee that shall include:

    (1) One member from each caucus of the legislature;

    (2) The superintendent of public instruction, or the superintendent's designee;

    (3) A representative from a nonprofit gender equity-in-athletics advocacy organization;

    (4) A representative from the Washington interscholastic athletics association;

    (5) The director of an athletic program in a Washington state public school;

    (6) A female coach currently working in a Washington state public school;

    (7) A representative from the school of education of a college or university in Washington; and

    (8) A current female student athlete from a Washington state public school; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the advisory committee report its findings and recommendations to the Senate and House of Representatives education committees by December 15, 1997.

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