BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Tom Torlakson, Chairman

                                           890 (Scott)
          
          Hearing Date:  05/14/07         Amended: 05/01/07
          Consultant:  Dan Troy           Policy Vote: ED 9-0
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          ____
          BILL SUMMARY:  SB 890 would establish the Early College  
          Commitment Program (ECCP) for the purposes of helping students  
          and families understand the attainability of college, and  
          motivating students to complete challenging coursework that will  
          make them eligible for postsecondary education.  The program is  
          voluntary on the part of the students and school districts and  
          would be administered by the Superintendent of Public  
          Instruction (SPI).  Participating districts would agree to  
          provide specified support services to pupils to aid their  
          readiness for college. The SPI would identify schools that have  
          middle and high schools that are among the poorest 30 percent in  
          the state in order to encourage their participation. The SPI  
          would be required to submit a report to the Legislature by  
          November 1, 2012 recommending whether or not to continue the  
          program.  
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          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2007-08      2008-09       2009-10     Fund
           SDE evaluation, monitoring,       $200 to $500          General   
                                  
          support services, data,
          promotion                         
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          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the  
          Suspense File.

          Students pledging participation in applicable districts would  
          agree to meet all high school graduation requirements, take  
          rigorous coursework including in math and science, and complete  
          an application for financial aid in their senior year of high  
          school.

          Districts agreeing to participate in ECCP would be encouraged to  










          implement the program throughout the district and required to  
          give pupils in grades 6 through 9, as specified, a pledge card.   
          Districts would also provide participating pupils with  
          information about college, provide transcript assessments and  
          other support, and provide reports to the SPI for purposes of  
          monitoring and evaluating the program.  

          Institutions of higher education would also be encouraged to  
          provide support services in coordination with participating  
          school districts.

          This bill imposes short- and long-term activities on the  
          Department of Education that would likely cost between $200,000  
          and $500,000.  Staff notes that this program provides no funding  
          for districts to participate, and that districts can currently  
          perform all specified activities without legislation.