_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 5940
_______________________________________________
AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed
Legislature - 2001 Regular Session
State of Washington 57th
Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By
READ FIRST TIME 02/28/01.
Strengthening
career and technical education.
AN
ACT Relating to career and technical education; adding a new section to chapter
28C.04 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)
The legislature finds that Washington requires strong career and technical
education programs to meet the academic and career preparation needs of
secondary students. The legislature further finds that career and technical
education programs, including the vocational skills centers, provide:
(a)
Support for achievement of the certificate of mastery, particularly by students
requiring applied learning opportunities for academic success;
(b)
Support for special needs students to fulfill the occupational preparation
required for self-sufficiency in adult life;
(c)
Increases in the number of students who complete high school; and
(d)
Assistance with students' transitions from secondary schools to postsecondary
education, training, and employment.
(2)
In order to provide students with a variety of learning experiences that will
assist them in achieving the higher standards of education reform, school
districts currently offering career and technical education programs shall
continue to provide career and technical education programs and school
districts not offering career and technical education programs are encouraged
to begin providing such programs.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 28C.04 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
To ensure high quality career and technical programs, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction shall review and approve the plans of
local districts for the delivery of career and technical education. Standards
for career and technical programs shall be established by the office of the
superintendent of public instruction. These standards should:
(a)
Demonstrate how career and technical education programs will ensure academic
rigor; align with the state's education reform requirements; help address the
skills gap of Washington's economy; and maintain strong relationships with
local career and technical education advisory councils for the design and
delivery of career and technical education; and
(b)
Demonstrate a strategy to align the five-year planning requirement under the
federal Carl Perkins act with the state and district vocational program
planning requirements that include:
(i)
An assessment of equipment and technology needs to support the skills training
of technical students;
(ii)
An assessment of industry internships required for teachers to ensure the
ability to prepare students for industry-defined standards or certifications,
or both;
(iii)
An assessment of the costs of supporting job shadows, mentors, community
service and industry internships, and other activities for student learning in
the community; and
(iv)
A description of the leadership activities to be provided for technical
education students.
(2)
To ensure high quality career education programs and services in secondary
schools, the office of the superintendent of public instruction may provide
technical assistance to local districts and develop state guidelines for the
delivery of career guidance in secondary schools.
(3)
To ensure leadership development, the staff of the office of the superintendent
of public instruction may serve as the state advisors to Washington state FFA,
Washington future business leaders of America, Washington DECA, Washington
SkillsUSA-VICA, Washington family, career and community leaders, and Washington
technology students association, and any additional career or technical student
organizations that are formed. Working with the directors or executive
secretaries of these organizations, the office of the superintendent of public
instruction may develop tools for the coordination of leadership activities
with the curriculum of technical education programs.
(4) As used in this section, "career and technical
education" means a planned program of courses and learning experiences
that begins with exploration of career options; supports basic academic and
life skills; and enables achievement of high academic standards, leadership,
options for high skill, high wage employment preparation, and advanced and
continuing education.
