SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1249

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 31, 1995

Title:  An act relating to changing timelines for essential academic learning requirement assessments.

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.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/24/95, 3/31/95 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pelz, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Gaspard, Hochstatter, Johnson and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

Background:  The Washington Commission on Student Learning is responsible for identifying the essential academic learning requirements.  The commission also has the duty to develop an assessment system to determine if students have learned the essential learnings.  Both the essential learnings and assessment system are based on the four state student learning goals. 

Current law requires the assessment system for Goal 1 and part of Goal 2 in reading, writing, communication and math to be ready for voluntary implementation by school districts in the 1996-97 school year.  The assessment system for the remainder of Goal 2 and Goals 3 and 4, which include the sciences, civics and history, geography, arts, health and fitness, analytical thinking, and career knowledge, must be ready for voluntary implementation in the 1997-98 school year.  All school districts must participate in the assessment system in the 2000-2001 school year.

To meet this deadline, the costs for developing the assessment for Goal 2 would need to be spent during the 1995-97 biennium.

Summary of Bill:  The Commission on Student Learning is given an additional year to develop the assessment system for the sciences, civics and history, geography, arts, health and fitness, analytical thinking, and career knowledge.  The initial implementation date is moved from the 1997-98 school year to the 1998-99 school year. 

The deadline for making recommendations about a statewide accountability system, a school assistance program, a system to intervene for schools where students fail to learn, and an awards and incentive system is moved from December 1, 1998, to December 1, 1999.

The duration of the commission is extended from September 1, 1998, to September 1, 1999.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.