This section modifies existing section 28A.300.080. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The legislature recognizes that agriculture is the most basic and singularly important industry in the state, that agriculture is of central importance to the welfare and economic stability of the state, and that the maintenance of this vital industry requires a continued source of trained and qualified individuals who qualify for employment in agriculture , food, and natural resource career pathways.
The legislature finds that research shows that students enrolled in a career and technical education program in high school have a higher graduation rate than other students, and that the agricultural education branch of career and technical education fosters an understanding of the history and principles of agriculture, agriscience, manufacturing, agribusiness, leadership, advocacy, career-connected learning experiences, and community service.
The legislature, therefore, intends to promote comprehensive and formal instruction in agricultural education, and membership in the corresponding career and technical student organizations, to provide students with the opportunity to:
Develop fundamental leadership and communication skills;
Develop an applied understanding of the agricultural industry and its potential;
Explore and understand career opportunities through supervised experiences;
Engage with industry mentors; and
Plan for career and college success.
In an effort to assist actions of schools to offer career and technical education courses, the legislature intends to support dropout prevention programs and career readiness, and improve learning opportunities and educational outcomes in agriculture, food, and natural resource education.
The legislature declares that it is within the best interests of the people and state of Washington that a comprehensive career-connected learning opportunity through a career and technical education program in agriculture, food, and natural resource sciences be maintained in the state's secondary school system in order to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals.
This section modifies existing section 28A.300.090. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A career-connected learning opportunity in the agriculture**, food, and natural resource career cluster area shall be established as a career and technical** education program in the office of the superintendent of public instruction . Adequate funding for the staffing of individuals trained or experienced in the field of agriculture**, food, and natural resource** education shall be provided for the program .
The program shall provide assistance to school districts and coordinate its activities with applicable career and technical student organizations . The program staff members must include, but are not limited to, the supervisor of the agriculture, food, and natural resource education program employed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and any additional staff member deemed appropriate.
The program shall:
Assess needs in agriculture , food, and natural resource sciences, assist local school districts in establishing agriculture**, food, and natural resource education** programs, review local school district applications for approval of agriculture**, food, and natural resource education** programs, evaluate existing programs, and plan research and studies for the improvement of curriculum materials for specialty areas of agriculture**, food, and natural resource education**. Standards and criteria developed under this subsection shall satisfy the mandates of federally-assisted career and technical education;
Develop in-service programs for teachers and administrators of agriculture**, food, and natural resource education**, review applications for career and technical education agriculture**, food, and natural resource** teacher certification, and assist in teacher recruitment and placement in career and technical education agriculture**, food, and natural resource** programs;
Serve as a liaison with the future farmers of America, representatives of business, industry, and appropriate public agencies, and institutions of higher education in order to disseminate information, promote improvement of career and technical education agriculture**, food, and natural resource** programs, and assist in the development of adult and continuing education programs in agriculture**, food, and natural resource education**; and
Establish an advisory task force committee of agriculturists, who represent the diverse areas of the agricultural industry in Washington, which shall make annual recommendations including, but not limited to, the development of curriculum, staffing, strategies for the purpose of establishing a source of trained and qualified individuals in agriculture, and strategies for articulating the state program in agriculture**, food, and natural resource** education, including youth leadership throughout the state school system.
For the purposes of this section, "agriculture, food, and natural resource career cluster area" means a program of study requiring the student to:
Complete courses in the following areas:
Agribusiness systems;
Animal systems;
Biotechnology systems;
Environmental service systems;
Food products and processing systems;
Natural resource systems;
Plant systems; and
Power, structural, and technical systems;
Develop an extended learning program that is supervised by their agriculture, food, and natural resource educator; and
Be engaged in a career and technical student organization.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 28A.300. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The legislature finds that career and technical student organizations prepare students to enter a postsecondary education institute and a career. The legislature finds also that barriers for agriculture, food, and natural resource students should be removed.
Therefore, to help local school districts meet performance targets established in RCW 28A.700.040, to provide assistance to students of agriculture, food, and natural resource education programs at schools that qualify as rural and low-income schools under the federal every student succeeds act, P.L. 114-95, and to provide assistance consistent with the requirements the federal every student succeeds act, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide every student enrolled in an approved agriculture, food, and natural resource education course, based on annual June 1st enrollment, with membership to the corresponding career and technical student organizations.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 28A.300. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the board of directors of the Washington FFA association, shall adopt and periodically revise rules to implement RCW 28A.300.090 and section 3 of this act.