Legislative News

Tim Knue, WA-ACTE Executive Director

PO Box 315, Olympia WA 98507-0315

Tel: 360-786-9286 / Fax: 360-357-1491 / tim@wa-acte.org

Susan Dixon, WAVA President

Evergreen School District, PO Box 8910, Vancouver WA 98668

Tel: 360-604-4068 ext. 4449 / Fax: 360-604-4104 / susan.dixon@evergreenps.org

WA-ACTE—WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

WAVA—AN ASSOCIATION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2010

The WA-ACTE/WAVA Legislative Agenda for 2010 is based on the work formerly done by the Basic Education Finance Taskforce and currently being done by the Quality Education Council and Funding Workgroup, along with the State Board of Education’s CORE 24 High School Graduation Requirements.

ISSUE: HB 2261 implementation and the QEC Funding Workgroup.
WA-ACTE/WAVA seeks to support the QEC Funding Workgroup in creating a new solution that supports CTE in the K-12 system and beyond by:

• Working with the Funding Workgroup to create a funding formula that improves CTE funding over time.  We feel the funding should begin in the 7th grade and should include a “use it or lose it” provision for CTE certificated administrative staff.  A new funding formula must start at a level equal to or greater than a ratio of 19:1 for exploratory programs and 16:1 for preparatory and skills centers.
• The NERC (Non-Employee Related Costs) should be enhanced that would include funding for equipment and technology upgrading.
• CTE certificated Career Counselors and/or Occupational Information Specialists be funded at the rate of 1:500.

ISSUE: State Board of Education’s CORE 24 High School Graduation Framework has yet to improve CTE opportunities in CORE 24 recommendations.
WA-ACTE/WAVA supports the goal of CORE 24 to improve graduation requirements that support students in pursuing career and college opportunities.  WA-ACTE/WAVA seeks help to insure that in CORE 24:

• Career Concentration credits are required and certificated CTE credits.
• CTE equivalency credits should be eligible to receive “2 for 1” credit.
• Equivalency credit determination process should be established by OSPI for local districts to adopt and implement.
• Art credit should be flexible with only one required for graduation.

ISSUE: Support Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) for full funding at state level.
WA-ACTE/WAVA is asking for legislation to provide full support and resources to CTSOs at the state and local level.

• Work for support and passage of SB 5593 “Career and Technical Student Organizations” bill in 2010.
• CTSOs (Career and Technical Student Organizations) should receive state funding for statewide leadership and support.

ISSUE: Funding Skills Center major capital projects.
WA-ACTE/WAVA asks for reconsideration of funding major capital projects that were not funded in the first half of the biennium.

12/1/09