H-3292.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2274

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Quall, Carlson, R. Meyers, Brough, Basich, Karahalios, Peery, Kessler, Eide, L. Johnson, Linville, Shin, Hansen, Talcott, Long, Van Luven, Cooke, Veloria, Scott, Johanson, Finkbeiner, Dunshee, Schoesler, Mastin, Pruitt, Wineberry, King, Conway, Kremen, Springer and H. Myers

Read first time 01/12/94.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Establishing credit equivalencies for high school students attending institutions of higher education.

    AN ACT Relating to the granting of high school course credit; amending RCW 28A.305.220; creating a new section; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) By April 15, 1994, the state board of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the higher education coordinating board shall jointly convene a task force to provide recommendations regarding the appropriate high school credit equivalencies for classes high school students complete at community and technical colleges and four-year colleges and universities.  The task force shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of high school principals and counselors and college and university admission and instructional staff.

    (2)  After considering the findings and recommendations of the task force, the state board of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the higher education coordinating board shall jointly make a recommendation to the legislature regarding the appropriate credit equivalencies.  The recommendation shall be submitted to the house of representatives and senate education and higher education committees by December 15, 1994.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.305.220 and 1984 c 178 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The state board of education shall develop for use by all public school districts a standardized high school transcript.  The state board of education shall establish clear definitions for the terms "credits" and "hours" so that school programs operating on the quarter, semester, or trimester system can be compared.  For high school students who attend college and university classes, five quarter or three semester hour credits at the college or university level shall equal the credit generated by one hundred fifty hours of high school instruction.

    (2) Transcripts are important documents to students who will apply for admission to postsecondary institutions of higher education.  Transcripts are also important to students who will seek employment upon or prior to graduation from high school.  It is recognized that student transcripts may be the only record available to employers in their decision-making processes regarding prospective employees.  The superintendent of public instruction shall require school districts to inform annually all high school students that prospective employers may request to see transcripts and that the prospective employee's decision to release transcripts can be an important part of the process of applying for employment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  Section 2 of this act shall expire August 31, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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