H-3670.2

HOUSE BILL 2865

State of Washington
66th Legislature
2020 Regular Session
ByRepresentatives Chambers, Shewmake, Dent, McCaslin, Callan, Gildon, Senn, and Eslick
Read first time 01/27/20.Referred to Committee on Human Services & Early Learning.
AN ACT Relating to informing families of kindergarten readiness standards; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.216 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills was implemented in 2012 to measure the typical skills and characteristics of kindergarten-ready children. The legislature finds that parents, guardians, and caregivers are critical in the development process of young children and need information about what these standards are in order to help their child be prepared to enter the K-12 education system. Therefore, the legislature intends to direct public agencies to publicize guidelines designed to help parents understand the elements of kindergarten-readiness.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
(1) By July 1, 2020, the superintendent of public instruction must develop guidelines for families that describe the typical skills and characteristics of kindergarten-ready children that are assessed by the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills. The superintendent must review the guidelines annually and update the guidelines as needed.
(2) By July 15th of each year, the superintendent of public instruction must make the current guidelines available on its public web site and must provide an electronic brochure of the guidelines at no cost to state agencies that provide or contract for direct services for parents, caregivers of dependent children in out-of-home care, and guardians of three and four-year olds, including:
(a) The department of children, youth, and families;
(b) The department of social and health services;
(c) The department of health; and
(d) The health care authority.
(3) For purposes of this section, "out-of-home care" has the same meaning as in RCW 13.34.030.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.216 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department must annually provide the kindergarten readiness guidelines developed under section 2 of this act to all parents, caregivers of dependent children in out-of-home care, and guardians of three and four-year old children served by the department and the department's contractors.
(2) For purposes of this section, "out-of-home care" has the same meaning as in RCW 13.34.030.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department must annually provide the kindergarten readiness guidelines developed under section 2 of this act to all parents, caregivers of dependent children in out-of-home care, and guardians of three and four-year old children eligible for and receiving public assistance, as defined in RCW 74.04.005.
(2) For purposes of this section, "out-of-home care" has the same meaning as in RCW 13.34.030.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department must annually include the kindergarten readiness guidelines developed under section 2 of this act in the child profile health promotion materials that are sent to households that include three or four-year old children.
(2) For purposes of this section, "out-of-home care" has the same meaning as in RCW 13.34.030.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The authority must annually provide the kindergarten readiness guidelines developed under section 2 of this act to all parents, caregivers of dependent children in out-of-home care, and guardians of three and four-year old children enrolled in the apple health for kids program.
(2) For purposes of this section, "out-of-home care" has the same meaning as in RCW 13.34.030.
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