AN ACT Relating to foreign language requirements; and amending RCW 28A.05.060, 28A.05.070, 28A.70.005, and 28B.80.350.

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

Sec. 1. Section 6, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 2, chapter 384, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28A.05.060 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students who commence the ninth grade subsequent to July 1, 1985, that meet or exceed the following:

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@h0!tm20,5,5,4,1 !sc ,4@bcsubject@ec!tj1!tc@bccred!ttits@ec

@h2 English!tl3

Mathematics!tl2

Social Studies

!sc ,3United States history

!sc ,5and government!tl1

!sc ,3Washington state

!sc ,5history and government!tl1/2

!sc ,3Contemporary world

!sc ,5history, geography,

!sc ,5and problems!tl1

Science (1 credit

!sc ,3must be in

!sc ,3laboratory science)!tl2

Occupational Education!tl1

Physical Education!tl2

Electives!tl5 1/2

Total!tl18

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@la (2) For the purposes of this section one credit is equivalent to one year of study.

(3) The Washington state history and government requirement may be fulfilled by students in grades seven or eight or both. Students who have completed the Washington state history and government requirement in grades seven or eight or both shall be considered to have fulfilled the Washington state history and government requirement.

(4) A candidate for graduation must have in addition earned a minimum of 18 credits including all required courses. These credits shall consist of the state requirements listed above and such additional requirements and electives as shall be established by each district.

(5) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board of education to establish and enforce minimum high school graduation requirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate the graduation requirements and shall report such findings to the legislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board.

(6) Pursuant to any foreign language requirement established by the state board of education or a local school district, or both, for purposes of high school graduation, students who receive instruction in American sign language shall be considered to have satisfied the state or local school district foreign language graduation requirement.

Sec. 2. Section 16, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28A.05.070 are each amended to read as follows

(1) All public high schools of the state shall provide a program, directly or otherwise, for students whose educational plans include application for entrance to a baccalaureate-granting institution after being granted a high school diploma. The program shall help these students to meet at least the minimum entrance requirements under RCW ((~~28B.10.045~~)) 28B.10.050.

(2) The state board of education, upon request from local school districts, shall be authorized to grant temporary exemptions from providing the program described in subsection (1) of this section for reasons relating to school district size and availability of staff authorized to teach subjects which must be provided.

Sec. 3. 28A.70.005, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 8, chapter 486, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.70.005 are each amended to read as follows:

The state board of education shall establish, publish and enforce rules and regulations determining eligibility for and certification of personnel employed in the common schools of this state, including certification for emergency or temporary, substitute or provisional duty and under such certificates or permits as the board shall deem proper or as otherwise prescribed by law. The rules shall require that the initial application for certification shall require a background check of the applicant through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system at the applicant's expense.

In establishing rules pertaining to the qualifications of instructors or interpreters of American sign language, the state board shall consult with the national association of teachers of sign language and shall minimally require that the instructor or interpreter be registered with the Washington state or national registries of interpreters of the deaf.

The superintendent of public instruction shall act as the administrator of any such rules and regulations and have the power to issue any certificates or permits and revoke the same in accordance with board rules and regulations.

Sec. 4. Section 6, chapter 370, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.80.350 are each amended to read as follows:

The board shall coordinate educational activities among all segments of higher education taking into account the educational programs, facilities, and other resources of both public and independent two and four-year colleges and universities. The four-year institutions((,)) and the state board for community college education((~~, and the commission for vocational education~~)) shall coordinate information and activities with the board. The board shall have the following additional responsibilities:

(1) Promote interinstitutional cooperation;

(2) Establish minimum admission standards for four-year institutions, including a requirement that coursework in American sign language shall satisfy any foreign language requirement the board or the institutions may establish as an admissions requirement;

(3) Establish transfer policies;

(4) Adopt rules implementing statutory residency requirements;

(5) Develop and administer reciprocity agreements with bordering states and the province of British Columbia;

(6) Review and recommend compensation practices and levels for administrative employees, exempt under chapter 28B.16 RCW, and faculty using comparative data from peer institutions;

(7) Monitor higher education activities for compliance with all relevant state policies for higher education;

(8) Arbitrate disputes between and among four-year institutions or between and among four-year institutions and community colleges at the request of one or more of the institutions involved, or at the request of the governor, or from a resolution adopted by the legislature. The decision of the board shall be binding on the participants in the dispute;

(9) Establish and implement a state system for collecting, analyzing, and distributing information;

(10) Recommend to the governor and the legislature ways to remove any economic incentives to use off-campus program funds for on-campus activities; and

(11) Make recommendations to increase minority participation, and monitor and report on the progress of minority participation in higher education.