FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2685

C 228 L 18

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Promoting preapprenticeship opportunities for high school students.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ortiz-Self, Harris, Santos, Johnson, Caldier, Dolan, Ormsby, Valdez, Steele, Frame, Jinkins, Bergquist, Doglio, McBride, Sells, Tarleton and Pollet).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

An apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training under the supervision of journey-level workers and a certain number of instructional hours. Apprenticeships can last from one to six years. During the apprenticeship, apprentices are paid lower wages than journey level workers.

The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC), which is part of the Department of Labor and Industries, establishes apprenticeship program standards, approves apprenticeship training programs, and otherwise governs the programs. Employers may partner with an approved apprenticeship program to offer apprenticeships, or develop their own apprenticeship program that is approved by the WSATC.

Apprenticeship preparation programs, also called preapprenticeship programs, are education-based programs that focus on educating and training students to meet or exceed minimum qualifications for entry into apprenticeship programs upon graduation. These preapprenticeship programs must be endorsed by one or more registered apprenticeship sponsors, and must be approved by the WSATC.

Summary:

Subject to the appropriation of specific funds, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), in consultation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the WSATC, must examine opportunities for promoting registered preapprenticeship and registered youth apprenticeship opportunities for high school students.

By November 1, 2018, the OSPI must solicit input from persons and organizations with an interest or relevant expertise in registered preapprenticeship programs, registered youth apprenticeship programs, or both, and employer-based preapprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs, and provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature that includes recommendations for:

• improving alignment between college level vocational courses at institutions of higher education and high school curriculum and graduation requirements, including High School and Beyond Plans. These recommendations may include the development or revision of career and technical education course equivalencies for college level vocational courses successfully completed by a student while in high school and taken for dual credit;

• identifying and removing barriers that prevent the wider exploration and use of registered preapprenticeship and registered youth apprenticeship opportunities by high school students and opportunities for registered apprenticeships by graduating secondary students; and

• increasing awareness among teachers, counselors, students, parents, principals, school administrators, and the public about the opportunities offered by registered preapprenticeship and registered youth apprenticeship programs.

"Institution of higher education" is defined to mean community or technical colleges, public tribal colleges, and Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, and The Evergreen State College. It does not include the University of Washington, Western Washington University, or private colleges.

Votes on Final Passage: