Summary

Washington HB 1872 (Open States or Washington Legislature) establishes a comprehensive initiative to increase learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through multiple strategies and statewide partnerships.

Legislative Analysis

WA HB 1872 sets forth a comprehensive plan to improve opportunities and outcomes in the STEM disciplines. It adopts the following definition of “STEM literacy”:

The ability to identify, apply, and integrate concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to understand complex problems and to innovate to solve them.

Four components of STEM Literacy are also described: scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical literacy.

The legislation establishes the STEM Education Innovation Alliance to advise the governor and provide support for the initiatives under the act. The Alliance will be comprised of representatives from business, education, and others with expertise in STEM education. The Alliance will create a STEM Framework for Action and Accountability containing meaningful measures of progress and then develop a STEM Benchmark Report Card, based upon the Framework.

The Education Data Center in the Office of Financial Management will coordinate data collection and analysis to support the report card. State education agencies will report on how their policies, activities, and expenditures align with and support the Framework. The Employment Security Department will create an annual report on current and projected job openings in STEM fields for the Report Card.

The Office of Financial Management is directed to contract with a statewide nonprofit organization with expertise in STEM education from early learning through postsecondary in order to identify and develop evidence-based approaches to improving STEM learning opportunities and improving desired outcomes. Activities will include a communications campaign, competitive grants to support innovation, and professional development opportunities.

Subject to funding, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will work with the Alliance to provide resources and materials to schools that encourage and increase interdisciplinary instruction and project-based learning in STEM.

HB 1872 requires the Student Achievement Council to consult with the Alliance in order to align their Roadmap for improving educational attainment with the STEM Framework for Action and Accountability. The Roadmap must include strategies to strengthen the education pipeline and degree production in STEM fields. The Quality Education Council is directed to include strategies to increase STEM learning opportunities in the goals and priorities for the K-12 education system.

Legislative History

Detailed Vote History: Legiscan |  Open States

Approved by Governor Jay Inslee on 7/3/2013