FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6521

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.

C 353 L 20

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Creating an innovative learning pilot program.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Wellman, Hunt, Mullet and Wilson, C.).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: State Board of Education Waivers. The State Board of Education (SBE) has the authority to grant waivers from basic education program requirements, including credit-based high school graduation requirements. As of January 2019, 13 schools within 12 school districts applied for a waiver from credit-based high school graduation requirements.

Mastery-Based Learning Work Group. The Legislature passed E2SHB 1599 in 2019, directing SBE to convene and staff a mastery-based learning work group to inform the Governor, Legislature, and public about barriers to mastery-based learning. Mastery-based learning is a program model whereby:

The work group is directed to examine opportunities to increase student access to relevant and robust mastery-based academic pathways aligned to personal career goals and postsecondary education. The work group must consider:

The work group submitted an interim report to the Governor and Legislature in December 2019. A final report detailing all findings and recommendations is due to the same recipients by December 1, 2020.

Summary: By July 1, 2020, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must create and administer an innovative learning pilot program to authorize full-time enrollment funding for students participating in mastery-based learning programs. The pilot program must be in effect through the 2022-23 school year.

To participate in the pilot program, school districts must have a waiver from the credit unit graduation requirements for the 2019-20 school year, granted by the State Board of Education. A district must also submit the following information to OSPI:

OSPI may adopt rules to implement the pilot program, including:

For purposes of the pilot program, "mastery-based learning program" is an educational program where:

By December 1, 2022, OSPI, in collaboration with SBE, must report to the Legislature regarding the efficiency, cost, and impacts of the funding model or models used under the pilot program.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate

47

0

House

97

0

Effective:

April 3, 2020