FINAL BILL REPORT

2ESB 5686

C 20 L 01 E2

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing academic assessments timelines.

Sponsors:  Senators Eide, Rasmussen, Kohl‑Welles, McAuliffe and Carlson; by request of Governor Locke.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Current law requires school districts to administer the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in reading, writing, communication (listening), and math at the fourth, seventh, and tenth grades.  The science assessments at the middle and high school levels are required to be administered in the 2000-01 school year.  However, after piloting the science assessments, the Superintendent of Public Instruction determined that the science assessments do not have the appropriate technical rigor and recommended delaying implementation.

There are statutory timelines for implementing the WASL in other subject areas, including science at the elementary level; and social studies, arts and health and fitness at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Summary:  The statutory timelines are revised for the voluntary and required administration of the WASL in science, social studies, arts, and health and fitness.

Science:  At the middle and high school level, the timelines for when the science WASL is available for voluntary use and when it is required are each delayed for three years.  At the elementary level, the timeline for when the science WASL is available for voluntary use is delayed for one year and the timeline for when it is required is unchanged.

Social Studies, Arts, Health and Fitness:  At the elementary, middle, and high school levels, the timelines for when the social studies, arts, and health and fitness WASL is available for voluntary use and when it is required are each delayed for two years.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate462

First Special Session

Senate366

Second Special Session

Senate367

House     79 7

Effective:  September 20, 2001