S-1782               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5952

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senator Talmadge

Read first time 2/20/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to education; adding a new section to chapter 28A.58 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.58 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The board of directors of each school district shall prepare and administer a standardized state-wide high school core competency achievement test to measure acquisition of the competencies described in local district student learning objectives.  Students may take the test at any point, until passed, in their high school program or until graduation.  Experiences for which testing is not appropriate may be demonstrated by successful completion of relevant course work.  Students with special educational needs may participate in this program to the extent of their capabilities.

          (2) The state board of education shall require a diagnostic test to be given to each high school student who scores below the twenty-fifth percentile in nationally standardized tests in the eighth or tenth grades or who has not passed the test under subsection (1) of this section.  The diagnostic tests shall be used to identify students who need help to remedy deficiencies and the type of assistance required before those students graduate from high school.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The sum of _____ dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.