Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 1120
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. |
Brief Description: Updating the term essential academic learning requirements to state learning standards to reflect current terminology.
Sponsors: Representative Dolan; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/24/19
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is responsible for developing and revising the essential academic learning requirements (EALRs) that identify the knowledge and skills all public school students need to know and be able to do based on four basic education learning goals established by the Legislature. The SPI is also responsible for adopting student learning standards aligned to the EALRs as grade-level content expectations and, in consultation with the State Board of Education, developing, maintaining, and revising a statewide academic assessment system that is designed to determine if students have mastered the EALRs.
School districts must teach content aligned to the standards when the content area is required or offered, but districts do not ratify or formally adopt the standards, as curriculum choices are, with limited exceptions, determined by school districts.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has begun using "state learning standards" and associated variations, including "Washington state K-12 learning standards" and "Washington state learning standards," instead of EALRs. The OSPI indicates that there is no difference between the content of the EALRs and the learning standards, and that only the naming terminology has changed.
Summary of Bill:
Statutory references to the "essential academic learning requirements" are replaced with "state learning standards." The terminology change is made through modifications to numerous statutes, including revisions to provisions governing:
the general contents of the instructional program of basic education;
the duty of the SPI to develop and revise leaning standards that identify the knowledge and skills all public school students need to know and be able to do;
curriculum development by public schools; and
the criteria for school library information and technology programs.
Selected references to the "Washington Assessment of Student Learning," the name applied to discontinued statewide student assessments, are revised to the "statewide student assessment." Additionally, definitions for the Washington Commission on Student Learning, an entity that was discontinued in 1999, are repealed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.