Original Notice.

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 01-15-076.

Title of Rule: Title 250 WAC, Washington scholars.

Purpose: Incorporate procedures to ensure that student nominations received in each legislative district will be sufficient to ensure the selection of a full complement of recipients (three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate in each legislative district) in the program annually.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28B.80 RCW.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 28A.600.140 through 28A.600.150 and chapter 28B.80 RCW.

Summary: Establishes the parameters and procedures in which the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) shall seek additional nominations in order to fully award three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate in each of the state's legislative districts.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: Current language provides only that high school principals [are] to nominate the top one percent of the graduating senior class, and that the HECB shall select three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate in each legislative district. Nominations are not always sufficient to select the full complement of scholars statewide. The revised language provides an avenue for the HECB to fully award the appropriate number of scholars required by statute.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implement and Enforcement: Ann M. Lee and John Klacik, 917 Lakeridge Way, P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 753-7843.

Name of Proponent: Educational Services Division, Higher Education Coordinating Board, governmental.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Current WAC language provides only that high school principals [are] to nominate the top one percent of the graduating senior class, and that the HECB shall select three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate in each legislative district. Initial nominations received for each legislative district are not always sufficient to select the full complement of scholars statewide. The revised language provides an avenue for the HECB to fully award the appropriate number of scholars required by statute.

Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Formalizes procedures in WAC that clarifies legislative intent and current practice to ensure that student nominations received in each legislative district will be sufficient to ensure the selection of a full complement of recipients (three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate in each legislative district) in the program annually.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Not applicable.

RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption.

Hearing Location: Third Floor Conference Room, Higher Education Coordinating Board, 917 Lakeridge Way, P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430, on Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact John Klacik or Ann Lee by Monday, October 8, 2001, TDD (306) 753-7809.

Submit Written Comments to: John Klacik, Associate Director of Student Financial Aid, or Ann M. Lee, Program Manager, Scholarships, c/o Higher Education Coordinating Board, fax (360) 704-6243, or (360) 704-6251, e-mail <annl@hecb.wa.gov> or <johnk@hecb.wa.gov>, by October 9, 2001.

Date of Intended Adoption: December 12, 2001.

August 31, 2001

John Klacik

Associate Director for

Student Financial Aid

OTS-5140.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-08-081, filed 4/4/00, effective 5/5/00)

WAC 250-66-030   Nomination and selection of Washington state scholars.   (1) Number of students to be nominated.

(a) Each principal of a public or private approved Washington high school is encouraged to nominate one percent of the senior class (twelfth grade) based on the October 1 enrollment count of the previous year.

(b) In the event that fewer than four nominations are anticipated in any one legislative district, the board shall seek additional nominations of students meeting eligibility criteria for that district from the high schools located in, and/or in legislative districts adjacent to, that legislative district.

(2) Selection committee.

(a) Following the receipt of ((all)) the nomination forms, the higher education coordinating board shall convene a selection committee which shall have members representing public and private secondary and postsecondary education institutions, state agencies, and private sector associations. This selection committee shall review all nominations based upon selection criteria that shall include, but not be limited to, academic excellence, leadership ability, and community contributions.

(b) Conditioned upon when the anticipated nomination shortfall is recognized, as defined in subsection (1)(b) of this section, the additional nominations received may undergo review with the general nomination pool or, separately, as soon thereafter as practicable and in a manner consistent with regular committee procedure and selection criteria.

(3) Selection. The Washington scholars selection committee shall designate three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate in each legislative district from among the population of graduating high school seniors nominated for the award.

Recipients shall be identified by a ranking of nominees within each legislative district in descending order according to the final, aggregate numeric scores assigned to each individual in the review process. The three individuals achieving the highest scores in each legislative district shall be named to the Washington scholars award, and the individual receiving the fourth highest score in each legislative district shall be named to the Washington scholars-alternate award.

(4) Notification. After the final selections have been made, the higher education coordinating board shall notify the students so designated, their high school principals, the legislators of their respective districts, and the governor.

(5) Certificates and awards ceremony.

(a) The board, in conjunction with the governor's office, shall prepare appropriate certificates of recognition to be presented to the Washington state scholars recipients and Washington scholars-alternate recipients.

(b) An awards ceremony on behalf of the three students named to the Washington state scholars award in each legislative district shall be planned annually, at an appropriate time and place, by the board in cooperation with the Washington association of secondary school principals.

(6) Receipt of award. Washington state scholars and Washington scholars-alternates shall be deemed to have received their awards effective the date of notification. This is in contrast to the receipt of award benefits which may accrue to Washington state scholars and Washington scholars-alternates recipients in the form of tuition and fee waivers and grants, and which shall be deemed to be received by the individual recipients on a term-by-term basis at the time the award benefit is used for undergraduate coursework.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW. 00-08-081, 250-66-030, filed 4/4/00, effective 5/5/00. Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW and 1994 c 234. 94-14-007, 250-66-030, filed 6/23/94, effective 7/24/94. Statutory Authority: 1992 c 231 and chapter 28B.80 RCW. 92-16-038, 250-66-030, filed 7/30/92, effective 8/30/92. Statutory Authority: 1988 c 210. 88-14-088 (Order 5-88, Resolution No. 88-13), 250-66-030, filed 7/5/88.]

Washington State Code Reviser's Office