H-1421

AN ACT Relating to the Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education program; amending RCW 28B.120.005, 28B.120.020, 28B.120.010, 28B.120.030, and 28B.120.040; adding new sections to chapter 28B.120 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to update and fund the higher education competitive grant program established by the 1991 legislature, known as the Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education. Changes are needed so that the goals and priorities set forth for awarding grants reflect the 1999-01 goals and priorities. The legislature also intends to improve the administration of the program by separating responsibilities between the higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges.

Sec. 2. RCW 28B.120.005 and 1991 c 98 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds that encouraging collaboration among the various educational sectors to meet state-wide needs will strengthen the entire educational system, kindergarten through twelfth grade and higher education. The legislature also recognizes that the most effective way to develop innovative and collaborative programs is to encourage institutions to develop them voluntarily, in line with established state goals. Through a system of competitive grants, the legislature shall encourage the development of innovative and collaborative solutions to issues of critical state-wide need, including:

(1) ((~~Improving rates of participation and completion at each educational level;~~

~~(2)~~)) Recognizing needs of special populations of students;

((~~(3) Improving the effectiveness of education by better coordinating communication and understanding between sectors.~~))

(2) Furthering the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery;

(3) Furthering the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates; and

(4) Increasing the collaboration among both public and private sector institutions of higher education.

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.120.020 and 1996 c 41 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board shall have the following powers and duties in administering the program for those proposals in which a four-year institution of higher education is named as the lead institution and fiscal agent:

(1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;

(2) To establish one or more review committees to assist in the evaluation of proposals for funding. The review committee shall include individuals with significant experience in higher education in areas relevant to one or more of the funding period priorities and shall include representatives from both the four-year and two-year sectors of higher education;

(3) To award grants no later than September 1st in those years when funding is available by June 30th;

(4) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting grant proposals consistent with the overall goals of the program and consistent with the guidelines established by the state board for community and technical colleges under section 4 of this act. During the ((~~1995-97~~)) 1999-01 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the following desired outcomes of ((increasing access, improving time to degree, improving student learning, and increasing efficiency and collaboration between institutions of higher education and the private sector through projects that may emphasize)):

(a) Minority and diversity initiatives that encourage the participation of minorities in higher education, including students with disabilities((~~, at a rate consistent with their proportion of the population~~));

(b) K‑12 teacher preparation models that encourage collaboration between higher education and K‑12 to improve the preparedness of teachers, including provisions for higher education faculty involved with teacher preparation to spend time teaching in K‑12 schools;

~~(i)~~)) Collaborative instructional programs involving K‑12, community and technical colleges, and four‑year institutions of higher education to develop a three‑year degree program, or reduce the time to degree;

((~~(ii) Instructional technology and multimedia curricular projects; and~~

~~(iii) A degree offered entirely on the internet;~~

~~(d) Individual institutional or faculty pilot projects to:~~

~~(i) Improve efficiency by five percent per year in cost or graduation rate;~~

~~(ii) Improve student retention;~~

~~(iii) Develop competencies and outcomes for general education or university requirements and degree programs;~~

~~(iv)~~)) (d) Contracts with public or private institutions or businesses to provide services or the development of collaborative programs;

(e) Articulation and transfer activities to smooth the transfer of students from K‑12 to higher education, or from the community colleges and technical colleges to four-year institutions; ((~~and~~))

(f) ((~~Other innovative proposals~~)) Projects that further the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery; and

(g) Projects that further the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates.

After June 30, ((~~1996~~)) 2001, and each biennium thereafter, the board shall determine funding priorities for collaborative proposals for the biennium in consultation with the governor, the legislature, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, the work force training and education coordinating board, higher education institutions, educational associations, and business and community groups consistent with state-wide needs;

((~~(4)~~)) (5) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the institutions of higher education about the program; and

((~~(5)~~)) (6) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring, and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants awarded by the higher education coordinating board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.120 RCW to read as follows:

The state board for community and technical colleges has the following powers and duties in administering the program for those proposals in which a community or technical college is named as the lead institution and fiscal agent:

(1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;

(3) To award grants no later than September 1st in those years when funding is available by June 30th;

(4) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting grant proposals consistent with the overall goals of the program and consistent with the guidelines established by the higher education coordinating board under RCW 28B.120.020. During the 1999-01 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the following desired outcomes of:

(a) Minority and diversity initiatives that encourage the participation of minorities in higher education, including students with disabilities;

(c) Collaborative instructional programs involving K‑12, community and technical colleges, and four‑year institutions of higher education to develop a three‑year degree program, or reduce the time to degree;

(d) Contracts with public or private institutions or businesses to provide services or the development of collaborative programs;

(e) Articulation and transfer activities to smooth the transfer of students from K‑12 to higher education, or from the community colleges and technical colleges to four-year institutions;

(f) Projects that further the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery; and

(g) Projects that further the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates;

(5) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the community and technical colleges and private career schools; and

(6) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring, and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants awarded by the state board for community and technical colleges.

Sec. 5. RCW 28B.120.010 and 1996 c 41 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education program is established. The higher education coordinating board shall administer the program for the purpose of awarding grants in which a four-year institution of higher education is named as the lead institution. The state board for community and technical colleges shall administer the program for the purpose of awarding grants in which a community or technical college is named as the lead institution. Through this program the boards may award on a competitive basis incentive grants to state public institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions to encourage cooperative programs designed to address specific system problems. Grants shall not exceed a two-year period. Each institution or consortia of institutions receiving the award shall contribute some financial support, either by covering part of the costs for the program during its implementation, or by assuming continuing support at the end of the grant period. Strong priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one sector of education, and to proposals that show substantive institutional commitment. Institutions are encouraged to solicit nonstate funds to support these cooperative programs.

Sec. 6. RCW 28B.120.030 and 1991 c 98 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges may solicit and receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the program and may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

Sec. 7. RCW 28B.120.040 and 1996 c 41 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board fund for innovation and quality is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The higher education coordinating board shall deposit in the fund all moneys received under RCW 28B.120.030. Moneys in the fund may be spent only for the purposes of RCW 28B.120.010 and 28B.120.020. Disbursements from the fund shall be on the authorization of the higher education coordinating board. The fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 28B.120 RCW to read as follows:

The community and technical college fund for innovation and quality is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The state board for community and technical colleges shall deposit in the fund all moneys received under RCW 28B.120.030. Moneys in the fund may be spent only for the purposes of RCW 28B.120.010 and section 4 of this act. Disbursements from the fund shall be on the authorization of the state board for community and technical colleges. The fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.