SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5553
As Passed Senate, February 8, 2022
Title: An act relating to providing data regarding early STEM metrics in the STEM education report card.
Brief Description: Providing data regarding early STEM metrics in the STEM education report card.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Wilson, C., Das, Hasegawa, Lovick, Nguyen, Nobles, Randall and Wellman).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/14/22, 1/21/22 [DPS, w/oRec].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/8/22, 29-20.
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Requires the existing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Report Card to include data regarding early STEM metrics.
  • Specifies that this data is provided in consultation with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and includes early learning outcomes data that are publicly available.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5553 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair, K-12; Wilson, C., Vice Chair, Early Learning; Hunt, Mullet and Pedersen.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senators Hawkins, Ranking Member; Dozier and McCune.
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background:

In 2013, the STEM Education Innovation Alliance (Alliance) was established to advise the Governor and provide vision and guidance to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, as well as other current or proposed programs and initiatives across the spectrum of early learning through post-secondary education, that are intended to increase learning opportunities and improve education outcomes in STEM. 

 

The Alliance was directed to develop a STEM Education Report Card to monitor progress in increasing learning opportunities and aligning strategic plans and activities to prepare students for STEM-related jobs and careers, with the longer-term goal of improving educational, workforce, and economic outcomes in STEM.  The report card must include certain information such as recent data of STEM indicators and measures and data regarding current and projected STEM job openings in the state. 

 

The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) advises the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) on statewide early learning issues.  ELAC and DCYF must partner with nonprofit organizations to collect and analyze data and measure progress.

 

Beginning September 15, 2021, and each odd-numbered year thereafter, DCYF must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature outlining the availability and quality of services available to early learning providers and children from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and from low-income neighborhoods and communities.

 

Beginning September 15, 2022, and each even-numbered year thereafter, DCYF must submit a report on the availability of supports to providers and their effectiveness at improving quality.
Summary of First Substitute Bill:

In consultation with DCYF, the Alliance must provide data regarding early STEM metrics including outcomes data that is already publicly available through ELAC and ongoing DCYF reports that address availability and quality of early learning services and supports for providers.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  PRO:  Early learning begins at birth.  Quality early learning experiences help optimize children's learning, which helps them later succeed in school.  Adding early learning data to the existing STEM Education Report Card will help educators, businesses, and communities understand early learning opportunities and help them track and support STEM goals.  This data can inform multiple early learning efforts and help ensure these efforts are responding to community needs.  This bill is not about collecting math data on students.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Claire Wilson, Prime Sponsor; Bish Paul, Washington STEM; Jennifer Veltri, NW Washington STEM Network; Sarah Brady; Susan Barbeau, First 5 FUNdamentals.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.