Brief Description: Requiring annual meetings to focus on implementing cross-sector education policies.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Carlson, Parlette, Eide, Rasmussen, Regala, Schmidt, Kohl-Welles and Shin).

Hearing Date: 2/18/04

Staff: Sydney Forrester (786-7120).

Background:

The state's various education and higher education boards and agencies may, and in some cases are directed to collaborate, communicate, and coordinate their efforts for specific cross-sector goals and projects. Examples of cross-sector issues include dual enrollment programs, articulation between high school and college, use of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) as a factor in college placement, and the need for a rigorous and challenging 11th and 12th-grade curriculum.

Although education and higher education boards and agencies may, and on occasion do, communicate regarding specific issues, there is no regularly-scheduled forum for comprehensive discussions about issues of cross-sector relevance involving all boards and agencies.

Summary of Bill:

Each year, in September or December, an annual meeting will be held for the purpose of focused discussions about cross-sector issues, including transition from K-12 to higher education; the role of college placement tests and the WASL; ways to challenge 11th and12th-grade students; the role of dual enrollment programs; teacher preparation in the colleges of education; and the role of guidance counselors in secondary and postsecondary education. Participants in the annual meeting will be the State Board of Education, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Council of Presidents, and members of the legislative committees for higher education, education, and fiscal matters.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 17, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.