HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 725

BYRepresentatives Cantwell, Rasmussen, Cole, Pruitt, Wang, Peery, Holland, Ebersole, Leonard, P. King, Unsoeld and Todd; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education

Providing a pilot program to provide health and assessment services before school begins.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

     Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Cole, Cooper, Ebersole, Holm, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Todd and Valle.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (4)

     Signed by Representatives Betrozoff, Butterfield, Fuhrman and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION JANUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

School districts engage in a series of evaluations of students, including health screening, readiness or placements tests and parent and student orientation, during the first few weeks of the school year.  These evaluations, while important, delay or interrupt the start of the regular school program.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  School districts may offer health screening, school placement tests, learning readiness assessment and student and parent orientation before the school year begins.  The principal objective of the program is to maximize learning time by decreasing interruptions during the school year. School districts may use funds appropriated under the existing local education program enhancement funds for this purpose.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The responsibilities of the superintendent of public instruction to administer and award funds to districts which are selected to participate in the pilot program for screening and orientation programs before the school year begins are removed.  The appropriation is removed.  The program is permissive and districts may fund such a program by using their local education program enhancement funds.

Fiscal Note:    Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Maria Cantwell; Dale Hoggins, Edmonds School District; Monica Schmidt, State Board of Education; Judy Hartmann, Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     This legislation provides an opportunity to design the most effective way of doing health screening, readiness assessment, placement testing and parent and student orientation prior to the opening of school.  This will minimize the disruptions at the beginning of the school year, aid in early identification of children needing assistance, and provide an opportunity to make children and parents aware of the services the school and other community agencies can provide.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.