SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6415
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As of February 3, 2016
Title: An act relating to career and technical education materials, supplies, and operating costs.
Brief Description: Concerning career and technical education materials, supplies, and operating costs.
Sponsors: Senators Rolfes, Rivers, Parlette, Cleveland, Bailey, Jayapal, McAuliffe, Ranker, Warnick, Angel, Benton and Hasegawa.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/02/16.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
Background: Career and Technical Education (CTE). The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) defines a CTE as a planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options, and then supports the learning of basic academic and life skills. It allows students to achieve high academic standards, gain leadership skills, explore options for high-skill, high-wage employment preparation, and encourages advanced and continuing education. OSPI is required to set standards for and approve all middle and high school CTE courses and programs. In school year 2014-15, there were approximately 64,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) students enrolled in CTE courses.
Skill Centers.OSPI defines a skill center as a regional CTE partnership that serves high school students from multiple school districts. A skill center is operated by a host school district and provides access to comprehensive, industry-defined CTE programs that prepare students for careers, employment, apprenticeships, and postsecondary education that are either too expensive or too specialized for school districts to operate individually. In school year 2014-15, there were approximately 5000 FTE students enrolled in skill center programs. Currently, there are 14 skill centers in Washington State:
Clark County Skills Center, Vancouver;
New Market Skills Center, Tumwater;
NEWTECH Skills Center, Spokane;
North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center, Port Angeles;
Northwest Career and Technical Academy, La Conner;
Pierce County Skills Center, Bethel;
Puget Sound Skills Center, Burien;
Seattle Public Schools Skills Center, Seattle;
Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center, Everett;
Tri-Tech Skills Center, Kennewick;
WaNIC Skills Center, Kirkland;
Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center, Wenatchee;
West Sound Technical Skills Center, Bremerton; and
Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center, Yakima.
Funding. Prior to the enactment of the prototypical school funding statute in 2010, CTE received enhanced funding to provide for expensive and specialized equipment; smaller class sizes because of safety concerns; more individualized instruction; more staff time required for the student leadership component; instructor skill training; coordination with business, community, and industry; and the supervision of student work programs.
When the prototypical school funding statute was adopted, it set in statute the minimum allocation for school districts for non-staff related costs - materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) - at a specific amount per full-time equivalent general education student. It also established a timeline to increase MSOC to specified amounts by the 2015-16 school year. The MSOC allocation for students in a CTE or skill center program is set in the omnibus appropriations act.
Since the prototypical school funding statute went into effect, the general education MSOC amount has been annually increased to meet the 2015-16 enhanced funding target but the CTE and skill centers MSOC amounts have not been increased.
Summary of Bill: A minimum funded amount for CTE and skills center programs' MSOC is set in statute and tied to the general education MSOC. For students in grades 7-12 in exploratory CTE courses, the MSOC amount is set at a rate that is equal to or greater than 1.4 times the general education MSOC amount. For students in in grades 9-12 in preparatory CTE courses, the MSOC is set at at a rate equal to or greater than 1.4 times the general education MSOC amount. For students in grades 11 and 12 in preparatory CTE courses offered through a skill center, the MSOC is set at a rate equal to or grater than 1.245 times the general education MSOC amounts.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: CTE MSOC has not kept pace with the increases that have been made to the general education MSOC. The goal is to take this first step to get CTE MSOC fully funded. CTE provides alternative training and alternative career paths for students. We know the importance of CTE programs to both students and businesses across the state. These programs prepare students to successfully enter into skilled labor, living wage jobs. But these programs are running out of materials and supplies, and some of the equipment is becoming out of date and is no longer aligned with industry standards. This is causing some of the CTE programs to revert to more traditional methods of teacher lecture instead of the hands-on, real-life training that is usually provided through CTE. Some school districts have been forced to drop the CTE programs they used to offer. This is a cause for concern for the businesses in the construction, maritime, manufacturing, health care, and aerospace industries who need trained and skilled employees. Some districts are using local levy dollars and contributions from the private sector but not all districts have access to such funds so this causes uneven access to the CTE programs across the state.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Ken Kanikeberg, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Julie Salvi, Washington Education Association; John Page, Tacoma Public School No. 10/Director of Career and Technical Education; Colleen McAleer, President, Washington; Diane Kocer, Executive Director, Assoc of Gen Contractors Ed Foundation; Natalie McNair-Huff, Trueblue; Michael Werner, Granite Falls High School CTE; Matthew Weaver, Fiberglass Supply; Nick Browning, West Sound Technical-student; Kyle Murphy, west sound techincal; Cameron White, West sound technical; Franklin (Gene) Wachtel, Washington Association of Career & Technical Education; Janea Eddy, Citizen; Dave Gering, Executive Director Manufacturing Industrial Council; Yamilex Sanchez, Sam Singh, Victor Barrera, YV-TECH; Dennis Conger, Wenatchee School district/ Director of Career and Technical Education; Shiloh Schauer, Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director; Kelly Fox, CEO/Lumber Traders; Cliff Webster, Northwest Marine Trade Association; Cliff Webster, American Waterways Operators.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.