SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5890

                    As of January 29, 1998

Title:  An act relating to providing children with an education in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science.

Brief Description:  Providing children with an education in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science.

Sponsors:  Senators Zarelli, Hochstatter, Stevens, Schow, Swecker, Benton and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/27/97, 1/30/98.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  Legislation passed in 1992 (SSB 5953), 1993 (ESHB 1209) and 1994 (ESHB 2850) provide most of the provisions of education reform, including the following:

Academics and Testing:  State goals for reading, writing, communicating, mathematics, the sciences, civics, history, geography, health and fitness, the arts, analytical thinking and problem solving, and understanding the importance of work were created. 

The Commission on Student Learning (CSL) was created to identify the knowledge and skills needed by all public school students, to develop student assessment and school accountability systems, and to take other steps necessary to improve student learning in the state.

High School Graduation Requirements:  The state minimum high school graduation requirements were repealed and the State Board of Education was directed to establish the state minimum high school graduation requirements in rule.

School District Powers:  Instead of requiring specific statutory authority for school districts to act, the Legislature granted broad discretionary powers of action to promote education or the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district.

Joint Select Committee on Education Restructuring (JSCER):  JSCER was created to monitor, review, and annually report to the Legislature on the implementation of education restructuring, to review all laws pertaining to K-12 public education, and to identify the laws that inhibit the achievement of a performance-based education system.

Student Learning Improvement Grants (SLIGs):  SLIGs were created to provide school districts with funds for additional time and resources for site-based planning activities and staff development to improve student learning.

Paraprofessional Training:  The paraprofessional training program was created to provide training for classroom assistants and the certificated teachers who work with them.

Mentor Teacher Program:  A mentor teacher program was created to provide support to teachers having difficulties in and outside of the classroom.

Principal and Administrator Internship Programs:  The principal and administrator internship support programs were created to provide school districts with funds for partial release time so that individuals may complete a mentored internship.

Readiness to Learn Grants:  Readiness to learn grants were created for community-based consortiums submitting strategies on how to improve students' readiness to learn.

State laws, other than the education reform legislation, address the following matters:

Testing:  School districts are encouraged to annually test second grade students to help identify students in need of assistance.  School districts are required to annually test fourth, eighth, and eleventh grade students using a standardized norm-reference achievement test.  The test results must be reported annually to the Legislature, all other local school districts, and parents of the students tested.

Private Schools:  Private schools must submit annual written reports to SPI on the use of un-certificated people of unusual competence who are teaching private school students.

The private school curriculum must include instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling and the development of appreciation of art and music.

Federal Goals 2000 Funds:  For the year of 1997-98, Washington State received approximately $8.4 million under the federal Goals 2000 legislation to support locally designed efforts to improve student academic learning.

Summary of Bill:  The purpose of the act is to restore control of education to the local community and school districts, and encourage a rigorous academic education for all public school students.

Academics and Testing:  The academic subjects of reading, writing, social studies and mathematics are defined.  All public schools must give instruction in reading, writing, social studies, mathematics and science.

Each school district must adopt academic standards in reading, writing, and mathematics.  There must be evidence of citizen participation in defining the academic standards.  Every school district is directed to hold at least two public hearings during the evening hours on alternating weekdays to provide notification of the academic standards.

The district's academic standards must be tested annually in each grade.  The district must report the test scores to the SPI, the parents or guardians of the students, and the residents of the school district.

School districts are encouraged to retain students at the current grade level if the test scores indicate help is needed in reading, writing, or mathematics.  The teacher and the parent or guardian must develop a student action plan to improve the student's academic achievement.  The plan must be reviewed by the principal and included in the student's permanent file.

School districts are required to annually test second grade students using a standardized norm-reference achievement test.  The results of the test must be reported annually to the Legislature, all other local school districts, and the parents of the students tested.

High School Graduation Requirements:  The state minimum high school graduation requirements are put back into statute.

Repealed:  Most of the provisions of the education reform acts of 1992, 1993, and 1994 are deleted or repealed, including the provisions granting broad discretionary power for school districts to act, creating and delegating responsibilities to the Commission on Student Learning and the Joint Select Committee on Education Restructuring, establishing the student learning improvement grants, providing for paraprofessional training, creating the mentor teacher program, establishing the principal and administrator internship programs, and providing for readiness to learn grants.

Private Schools:  Annual written reports on the use of uncertificated people of unusual competence teaching students in private schools no longer need to be submitted to SPI, but must be maintained by the school for review if SPI requests a review.

Private school curriculum requirements are changed to include instruction in the basic skills of reading, writing, social studies, mathematics and science as defined for public schools.  The requirements for instruction in occupational education, language, health, and art and music appreciation are removed.

Federal Goals 2000 Funds:  The state, and all individual school districts, are prohibited from accepting federal Goals 2000 funds.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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