BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to education; adding new sections to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) There is hereby created a joint select committee on education reform composed of twelve members as follows:

(a) Six members of the senate, three from each of the major caucuses, to be appointed by the president of the senate; and

(b) Six members of the house of representatives, three from each of the major caucuses, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(2) The staff support shall be provided by the senate committee services and the office of program research as mutually agreed by the cochairs of the joint select committee. The cochairs shall be designated by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.

(3) The expenses of the committee members shall be paid by the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The joint select committee on education reform shall monitor, review, and periodically report upon the enactment and implementation of education reform in Washington both at the state and local level, including the following:

(1) The progress of the commission on student learning in the completion of its tasks as designated by chapter 141, Laws of 1992, or any subsequent legislation relating to education reform;

(2) The progress of the commission on student learning in designing a state-wide assessment system that will accurately measure student mastery of essential academic learning requirements;

(3) The success of the quality schools center required to be established under chapter 141, Laws of 1992, and the extent to which the center's services duplicate the services actually offered by the office of the superintendent of public instruction;

(4) The state board of education's implementation of teacher certification requirements that are required by law on the effective date of this section or subsequent to that date, and whether such requirements as implemented are actually consistent with higher student achievement envisioned under a performance-based education system;

(5) The number of school districts seeking waivers from basic education act requirements under RCW 28A.305.140 or other legislation, and the success of alternative programs pursued by those school districts;

(6) Whether the shift to a performance-based education system is incurring or will incur resistance, and, if so, why and by which group or groups;

(7) The progress and success of the commission on student learning in establishing essential learning requirements that accurately and clearly represent what students should know and be able to do at specified intervals in their schooling;

(8) The progress and success of the commission on student learning in developing standards for what teachers, educational staff associates, and administrators should know and be able to do to assist students in achieving mastery of the essential learning requirements;

(9) The progress and success of the commission on student learning in developing recommendations for the repeal or amendment of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, rules, budgetary language, and other factors that inhibit schools from adopting strategies designed to help students achieve essential learning requirements;

(10) The progress and success of the commission on student learning, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and the state board of education in identifying laws pertaining to K-12 public education that do not contribute to achievement of the new system of performance-based education for all students;

(11) The progress and success of the commission on student learning, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, the higher education coordinating board, and the state board for community and technical colleges in carrying out such duties and completing tasks as designated by chapter 141, Laws of 1992, by the performance-based education act, chapter ..., Laws of 1993 (House Bill No. 1209; Senate Bill No. 5306), and any subsequent legislation relating to education reform; and

(12) Such other areas as the committee may deem appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commission on student learning, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, the higher education coordinating board, and the state board for community and technical colleges shall each report to the joint select committee on education reform regarding their progress in completing tasks as designated by chapter 141, Laws of 1992, by the performance-based education act, chapter . . ., Laws of 1993 (House Bill No. 1209; Senate Bill No. 5306), and any subsequent legislation relating to education reform.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The joint select committee on education reform shall report its initial findings to the legislature by December 31, 1993, and shall annually report its findings thereafter until December 31, 1998, at which time the committee shall make its final report.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.600 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 3 of this act shall expire January 1, 1999.