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SCR134...............................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION - Stating findings of the Legislature and
supporting specified international education.
03/06 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/07 Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
03/10 10th Ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Burkett
Title apvd - to House
03/11 House intro - 1st rdg - to Educ
03/18 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/19 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/21 3rd rdg - FAILED - 30-32-8
AYES -- Bilbao, Block, Bock, Boe, Bradford, Chavez, Chew, Durst,
Henbest, Killen, King, LeFavour, Mortimer, Pasley-Stuart, Pence,
Ringo, Ruchti, Rusche, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(02), Shirley,
Shively, Smith(30), Smith(24), Snodgrass, Trail, Vander Woude, Wills,
Mr. Speaker
NAYS -- Andrus, Barrett, Bayer, Bell, Bolz, Bowers, Brackett,
Chadderdon, Crane, Eskridge, Hagedorn, Hart, Harwood, Henderson,
Labrador, Lake, Loertscher, Luker, Marriott, Mathews, McGeachin,
Moyle, Nielsen, Nonini, Patrick, Raybould, Roberts, Shepherd(08),
Stevenson, Thayn, Thomas, Wood(35)
Absent and excused -- Anderson, Bedke, Black, Clark, Collins, Jaquet,
Kren, Wood(27)
Floor Sponsor - Trail
Ret'd to Senate
Filed in Office of the Secretary of Senate
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]] Fifty-ninth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2008IN THE SENATE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 134 BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE 1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2 STATING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND SUPPORTING SPECIFIED INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION. 3 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 4 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that international education is a key cor- 5 nerstone to Idaho's global competitiveness and international education is of 6 vital importance to Idaho's economy by providing opportunities for 7 transformational learning, citizenship and leadership, contributing to diver- 8 sity both in and outside the classroom, enhancing both academic and 9 cocurricular programs, and promoting cross-cultural understanding among its 10 citizens; and 11 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to recruiting stu- 12 dents from many parts of the world to study in our educational institutions. 13 Between 2006 and 2007, 1,969 international students and their families studied 14 and lived in Idaho, contributing $31.6 million in tuition, fees and expenses. 15 Many international students are engaged in research that results in products 16 and services that directly benefit Idaho's economy and improve the everyday 17 lives of its citizens; and 18 WHEREAS, when international students return to their home countries and 19 gain influential positions in companies and society, they are an important 20 asset to Idaho. International alumni spread recognition and a positive image 21 of Idaho and the United States in their home countries and they are also vital 22 in developing networks and connections for Idaho businesses and higher educa- 23 tion throughout the world; and 24 WHEREAS, at the kindergarten through grade 12 levels, international stu- 25 dents bring diverse perspectives, provide opportunities for learning toler- 26 ance, and enrich their peers' social and political understanding of other 27 countries and cultures; and 28 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to providing study 29 abroad opportunities for its students. In 2005, Idaho Senator Larry Craig 30 cosponsored U.S. Senate Resolution 308, proclaiming 2006 as the Year of Study 31 Abroad. The world is full of pressing challenges, including hunger, poverty 32 and disease; and 33 WHEREAS, study abroad is a springboard for students to become engaged in 34 real world problems, helping them become better communicators and problem 35 solvers, hone leadership skills and gain empathy for those who are suffering 36 from economic hardship, famine or tyranny. Study abroad helps transform stu- 37 dents into globally informed citizens, unafraid to grapple with the tough 38 questions and obstacles of tomorrow; and 39 WHEREAS, to bring multinational companies to Idaho and provide local com- 40 panies with international expertise, Idaho's workforce must gain the global 41 competency to address the needs of business; and 42 WHEREAS, the best method for our students to achieve global competency is 43 through direct international experience integrated into their education; and 44 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to bringing inter- 2 1 national artists, performances, exhibitions, conferences, events and forums to 2 its educational institutions and communities. Idaho festivals, such as the 3 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, recently awarded the nation's 4 highest honor, the National Medal of Arts, inspire our youth by offering clin- 5 ics and workshops where they can learn from celebrated musicians and 6 performers. International performances and exhibitions not only entertain us, 7 they challenge Idahoans to rethink their conceptions about the world. Interna- 8 tional events and forums provide a platform to explore and generate open and 9 honest debate on important topics such as global warming, the war on terrorism 10 and genocide; and 11 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to 12 internationalizing the curriculum at kindergarten through grade 12 schools and 13 at colleges and universities; and 14 WHEREAS, course offerings at Idaho educational institutions must reflect 15 the global aspect in every discipline. For instance, a computer produced in 16 Idaho may have parts from Mexico, be marketed in Europe, and have product sup- 17 port from India. Research that used to be conducted in relative isolation is 18 much more likely these days to be facilitated through collaborative efforts 19 with scientific labs abroad; and 20 WHEREAS, in order to produce students able to compete successfully in a 21 global marketplace, Idaho kindergarten through grade 12 schools, colleges and 22 universities must prepare them for that experience; and 23 WHEREAS, Idahoans need to be conversant in other languages, learn how to 24 effectively network with people from other countries, feel as at ease working 25 in Boise or in Coeur d'Alene as in Shanghai or Nairobi. Idaho educational cur- 26 riculum needs to prepare Idahoans to be globally engaged citizens and leaders; 27 and 28 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to expanding inter- 29 national trade. In 2006, Idaho exports exceeded $3.7 billion and were linked 30 to nearly 10% of its workforce. Key markets for Idaho's goods included China, 31 Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Japan; and 32 WHEREAS, Idaho companies and higher education institutions are engaged in 33 developing new products, technologies and innovative ways to globally market 34 their products; and 35 WHEREAS, higher educational institutions in Idaho provide foreign lan- 36 guage, area studies and cross-cultural communication courses. They promote 37 mutual understanding between Idahoans and people from other parts of the world 38 and train business executives and personnel in successful strategies to com- 39 pete in markets abroad; and 40 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho recognizes that international 41 students and scholars contribute significantly to the cultural, artistic and 42 social fabric of Idaho's educational institutions and communities; that inter- 43 national trade, supported through international education, is critical to 44 Idaho's economy; that international exchange and study abroad promote 45 transformational learning and global competency; that international festivals, 46 events and forums sponsored by Idaho's educational institutions promote cul- 47 tural awareness and appreciation of the arts, and provide an avenue for the 48 important issues of our time to be examined and that the internationalization 49 of curriculum at Idaho educational institutions and schools is crucial to pre- 50 paring students for an increasingly interconnected world. 51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses- 52 sion of the Fifty-ninth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre- 53 sentatives concurring therein, that Idaho supports: 54 (1) Infusing courses with international topics, and across disciplines, 55 to increase students' understanding of global issues and provide opportu- 3 1 nities to become engaged in those issues; 2 (2) Developing more area studies courses, and in particular, courses that 3 examine Islamic, Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries; 4 (3) Promoting the study of foreign languages, and in particular, develop- 5 ing and offering more courses in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and other lan- 6 guages crucial to Idaho's economic growth; 7 (4) Providing opportunities for students in all majors to participate in 8 programs to study abroad, volunteer abroad and participate in internships 9 abroad to enrich their academic and professional training, gain new 10 intercultural perspectives, hone their leadership and global competency 11 skills and become engaged in real-world problems and issues; 12 (5) Recruiting more international students to Idaho campuses and schools 13 so that more opportunities exist for Idaho natives and international stu- 14 dents to interact effectively, gain intercultural skills and understand- 15 ing, to share their views, perceptions and experiences, and to create a 16 cadre of international business and political allies; 17 (6) Developing innovative international events, forums, conferences, 18 exhibitions and festivals to showcase world artists and musicians, perfor- 19 mances and works of art, and provide venues for Idahoans to explore global 20 issues and learn about other cultures; 21 (7) Encouraging kindergarten through grade 12 integration of materials, 22 programs and partnerships that build on the Idaho Content Standard for 23 Global Perspectives; and 24 (8) Encouraging early foreign language learning and implementation of 25 dual language practices and curriculum in Idaho elementary schools.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 17969
International education impacts Idaho citizens on multiple
levels. Idaho's economy cannot prosper without our graduates
gaining the global competency to build business partnerships
across the world. International education is essential to
developing new and innovative products; expanding trade and
global competitiveness; creating a cadre of political and
business allies; providing opportunities for leadership,
transformational learning and cross-cultural understanding. It
contributes to our appreciation of the arts and offers an avenue
for important issues of our time to be openly and honestly
examined and debated. This concurrent resolution highlights the
importance of international education to improve higher education
in Idaho through support for infusing courses with international
topics across disciplines; developing more area studies courses;
promoting the study of foreign languages; providing opportunities
for students to participate in programs to study abroad,
volunteer abroad, and participate in internships abroad;
recruiting more international students and scholars to Idaho
campuses and schools; developing innovative international events,
forums, conferences, exhibitions and festivals to showcase world
artists and musicians, performances and works of art, provide
venues for Idahoans to explore global issues and experience other
cultures; and encouraging K-12 integration of materials,
programs, and partnerships that build on the Idaho Content
Standard for Global Perspectives.
FISCAL NOTE
The fiscal impact is dependent upon which educational
improvements the legislature chooses to pursue.
Contact
Name: Senator Mike Burkett
Phone: 208-332-1383
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SCR 134