FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1249

                         C 209 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Extending the time for developing essential academic learning requirement Goal 2 assessments.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brumsickle and Cole; by request of Office of Financial Management and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

Background:  The Commission on Student Learning, which was created by the Legislature in 1992, is directed to identify "essential academic learning requirements" for students in Washington's public schools, and to develop an assessment system for determining if students have mastered the essential learnings.  The essential learnings and assessments are to be based on four state goals that were adopted in ESHB 1209 by the 1993 Legislature.

Current law requires the assessment system for reading, writing, communication, and math (Goal #1 and math) to be ready for voluntary implementation by school districts in the 1996-97 school year.  Phase 2 of the assessment system, which includes the sciences, civics and history, geography, arts, health and fitness, analytical thinking, and career-related knowledge (Goals #2, #3, and #4), is to be ready for voluntary implementation in the 1997-98 school year.  All school districts are required to participate in the assessment system in the 2000-2001 school year.

In order to reduce expenditures in the 1995-97 biennium and level-out the workload requirements of the Commission on Student Learning, it has been suggested that the voluntary implementation date for Phase 2 of the assessment system be delayed one year.

Summary:  The timeline of the Commission on Student Learning for developing Phase 2 of the assessment system is modified.  The implementation date  is postponed from the 1997-98 school year to the 1998-1999 school year.   The school year in which all school districts are required to participate is not changed.

The expiration of the Commission on Student Learning is moved from September 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999.  The due date for recommendations regarding a revised accountability system is moved from December 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     98 0

Senate41  0 (Senate amended)

House     92 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995