Olympia – The House of Representatives took another step towards helping struggling public schools by approving House Bill 2799 Monday afternoon.
HB 2799, sponsored by Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-Covington), creates a five-year pilot project known as the Collaborative Schools for Innovation and Success (CSIS). The project will provide resources for public and private colleges of education to partner with underachieving elementary schools. The partnerships are designed to find innovative ways to meet the needs of struggling schools.
“I believe we need to do everything possible to help our students become successful,” said Sullivan. “This provides alternative opportunities for struggling schools.”
The bill will encourage colleges and local school districts to collaborate in developing research-based models of teaching that are known to close the opportunity gap and improve student learning. The bill also aims to test new methods of educator training that will build a workforce with knowledge, skills, and background to serve students in low-performing schools.
The legislation authorizes up to six college/district partnerships to compete for grant funds through an application process. At least one partnership must be approved from the largest school district that applies from each side of the Cascades. Subject to funding in the final operating budget, three of the six partnerships will receive grant funding from the state to implement their programs.
The bill requires the partners to submit annual progress reports that describe best practices, lessons learned, adjustments planned and implemented, and suggestions for expanding use of best practices to a larger scale.
“CSIS builds upon the four pillars of education reform: quality teaching, strong community partnerships, a focus on student achievement, and measuring your results,” said Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, chair of the House Education committee.
Similar partnership programs are already underway at some colleges like the Ackerley Partner School Network at the University of Washington. HB 2799 will encourage partnerships like the Ackerley program throughout other areas of the state. If the CSIS program is successful, the legislature could implement the program statewide.