Brief Description: Improving student performance through student-centered planning.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Eide and McAuliffe).

Hearing Date: 2/20/06

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

The Franklin Pierce School District in Tacoma has developed a comprehensive model of student guidance for middle and high school students called Navigation 101. The Navigation 101 model includes a class that provides students with planning skills, career exploration opportunities, portfolio development, and self-assessment of students' academic accomplishments, interests, abilities, and learning styles. Teachers and students in Navigation 101 classes stay together throughout the students' four-year high school career. Students lead annual conferences with their parents and mentor teacher, during which they explain past performance and make future plans. The district does not set its annual class schedule until students make their course selections. Since implementation of Navigation 101, the district reports a significant increase in parent participation at student conferences; an increase in student requests to enroll in more challenging mathematics and science courses; and improvement in student performance.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) has encouraged other school districts to adopt a Navigation 101 model for student guidance. The SPI reports that at least 12 other districts have adopted the model with advice and implementation support from Franklin Pierce. An unknown number of additional schools and districts have implemented one or more aspects of the model, such as student-led conferences or four-year mentor teachers.

Summary of Bill:

To the extent that funding is provided for this purpose, by August 2006, the SPI will develop and disseminate a comprehensive student-centered planning program to all school districts. The program elements include:

   1.   a long-term mentor-student relationship for every student at the school;
   2.   curriculum to be used by the mentor in helping the student develop, implement, and maintain a plan for meeting long-term learning objectives with an emphasis on how those objectives impact the student's current and future goals;   
   3.   an annual student-led parent and mentor conference; and
   4.   data collection that allows schools to monitor student progress.

The SPI will also provide professional development for staff and ongoing technical assistance to schools that implement the program.

If funding is provided, SPI will distribute grants to schools to implement the planning programs. Grant selection criteria, the number of awards, and the award amount will be published by SPI and recipients will be informed of their award by December 2006. To the extent possible, first and second class school districts and districts from different geographic regions of the state will be represented in grant allocations. Grant recipients must make every effort, to the extent possible, to ensure adequate capacity in courses selected by students.

By January 1, 2009, SPI will report to the Legislature on the impact of the student-centered planning programs on student performance. The program expires July 1, 2009. If specific funding for student-centered planning programs is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act, the bill is null and void.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed; except that if funding is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2006, the bill is null and void.