CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

          ENGROSSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1941

                        54th Legislature

                      1995 Regular Session

Passed by the House April 22, 1995   Yeas 91   Nays 0 Speaker of the        House of Representatives Passed by the Senate April 22, 1995   Yeas 44   Nays 0

CERTIFICATE I, Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1941 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

President of the Senate

Chief Clerk

Approved Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

FILED

Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State                        State of Washington

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                    ENGROSSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1941

                  _______________________________________________

                    AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

                     Passed Legislature - 1995 Regular Session

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Johnson, Brumsickle, Talcott and Thompson)

Read first time 03/06/95.

Improving student learning by focusing on reading literacy.

     AN ACT Relating to the improvement of reading literacy; adding a new section to chapter 28A.630 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 ability to read with comprehension and skill is essential for success in school, and for success in future life.  As we enter into the twenty-first century, the ability to read is critical to personal and family prosperity.  It is the intent of the legislature to improve student learning by focusing on reading literacy in our public schools.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.630 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) The elementary grades assessment developed by the commission on student learning under RCW 28A.630.885(3)(b)(i) shall require that all public school students are assessed for reading literacy skills in the third grade no later than March 31st.

     (2) The  reading assessment in subsection (1) of this section shall be available for use by elementary schools no later than the 1996-97 school year.  Elementary schools are encouraged to begin implementation of the assessment in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 school years.

     (3) Notwithstanding the assessment implementation dates in RCW 28A.630.885, the reading assessment in subsection (1) of this section shall be implemented state-wide to all public school third-grade students in the 1998-99 school year.

     (4) The information provided by the reading assessment shall be used by educators as a tool to evaluate instructional practices and to initiate appropriate educational support for students who have not mastered the essential academic learning requirements for reading.  The type of support to be provided to students shall be determined by school districts.  School districts shall periodically reassess students who have not mastered the essential academic learning requirements for reading, and shall continue to provide appropriate reading support for students who have not mastered these essential academic learning requirements.  The results of the reading assessment shall not be used for school or school district accountability purposes.

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