SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6153

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Early Learning & K-12 Education, January 29, 2018

Title: An act relating to informing high school students enrolled in dual credit courses about the online credit search tool.

Brief Description: Informing high school students enrolled in dual credit courses about the online credit search tool.

Sponsors: Senators Palumbo, Ranker, Mullet and Liias.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/25/18, 1/29/18 [DP, w/oRec].

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires public high schools to inform students enrolled in certain dual-credit courses about the credit search tool provided online by the Student Achievement Council (SAC).
Requires that schools send this information to students via email or by written notice if no email account is available for students.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Rolfes, Vice Chair; Zeiger, Ranking Member; Billig, Hawkins, Mullet, Padden, Pedersen and Rivers.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Hunt.

Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)

Background: Dual-Credit Programs. Currently, high schools in Washington are required to work towards offering a sufficient number of courses that give students the opportunity to earn up to a year's worth of credit in various post-secondary programs. These courses are offered in a variety of programs, including career and technical education courses, College in the High School, and the Running Start programs.

Several of these course types offered in high schools, including AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge International (CI), have accompanying proficiency exams. Upon receiving a particular score on these exams, students may earn college credit from an institution of higher education upon enrollment.

Institutions of higher education, under guidelines set by state law, set the requisite scores needed on proficiency exams in order to earn college credit. The score standards and the credits given vary by institution.

Within existing resources, high schools must inform students and their families about dual-credit program offerings, with an emphasis on communication to underrepresented groups.

Washington SAC. The SAC has an online tool that allows users to view which institutions provide credit for AP, IB, and CI courses, the scores required to receive credit, and the courses for which credit would be granted.

Summary of Bill: Within existing resources, all public high schools shall inform students of the online search tool provided by the SAC. This information shall be sent upon enrollment in the course and by email or by written notice if no email account is available.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 17, 2018.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: OTHER: The Washington Student Achievement Council created the credit tool to provide guidance and clarification for students.

Persons Testifying: OTHER: Maddy Thompson, Washington Student Achievement Council.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.