S-3858.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6501

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Eide, Winsley, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen and Goings

Read first time 01/18/2000.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Creating a grant program to fund after-school programs for middle school youth.

    AN ACT Relating to a middle school after-school youth grant program; adding a new section to chapter 28A.215 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that middle school youth, grades six, seven, and eight, are experiencing remarkable physical and emotional development.  These changes often affect how they perform in school and how they relate to parents and others in the community.  The legislature finds that adolescents enjoy excitement and activities with peers.  The legislature further finds that quality programs organized by responsible adults will promote safety for adolescents and the community.

    The legislature further finds that there is a lack of affordable, safe, age-appropriate child care opportunities for middle school youth.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.215 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a grant program to provide funding for after-school programs for middle school youth.  Under the grant program:

    (a) Public schools and other public, private, and nonprofit organizations may apply for grants to provide after-school programs to youth in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades;

    (b) Grants may be awarded to provide funding to either supplement existing programs or start new programs;

    (c) Applicants must provide twenty-five percent matching funds, either money or in-kind;

    (d) Preference is to be given to providing grants to programs that will:

    (i) Serve low-income youth;

    (ii) Serve youth with special needs, including youth with developmental or physical disabilities and youth in individualized educational programs;

    (iii) Serve economically depressed areas; and

    (iv) Provide age-appropriate activities for the youth.

    (2) In administering the grant program, the superintendent of public instruction shall:

    (a) Establish an advisory board that includes representatives from middle schools, parents of middle school youth, and providers from community-based organizations and is geographically diverse.  The advisory board shall review and rate applications prior to selection by the superintendent of public instruction;

    (b) Develop outcome measures with input from the advisory board and keep track of program impact using developmental assets as performance measures; and

    (c) Encourage participating organizations to participate in federal food programs.

    (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW setting forth criteria, application procedures, and methods to implement this section.

                            --- END ---