H-2197

AN ACT Relating to reading in the primary grades; amending RCW 28A.230.190; adding new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 28A.630.886; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that one way to determine if a child's inability to read is problematic is to compare the child's reading fluency and accuracy skills with that of other children. To accomplish this objective, the legislature finds that assessments that test students' reading fluency and accuracy skills must be scientifically valid and reliable. The legislature further finds that early identification of students with potential reading difficulties can provide valuable information to parents, teachers, and school administrators. The legislature finds that assessment of second grade students' reading fluency and accuracy skills can assist teachers in planning and implementing a second grade reading curriculum that addresses students' deficiencies in reading and the second grade reading essential academic learning requirements. The legislature further finds that use of state-wide valid and reliable assessments will enable schools and school districts to obtain grants to conduct applied research in using effective reading programs for second grade students and for improving teachers' instructional practices.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall identify a collection of tests that can be used to measure second grade reading accuracy and fluency skills. The purpose of the second grade reading test is to provide information to parents, teachers, and school administrators on the level of acquisition of reading accuracy and fluency skills of each student at the beginning of second grade. Each of the tests in the collection must:

(a) Provide a reliable and valid measure of student's reading accuracy and fluency skills that includes a measure of rate;

(b) Be able to be individually administered;

(d) Assess student skills with a list that begins with single letters and progresses to words ordered in complexity. The test must assess phonemic awareness, word recognition, and reading in connected text. Text used for the test of fluency must be ordered in relation to difficulty.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall select tests for use by schools and school districts participating in pilot projects under section 3 of this act during the 1997-98 school year. The final collection must be selected by June 30, 1998.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop a per-pupil cost for each of the tests in the collection that details the costs for booklets, scoring services, and training required to reliably administer the test. To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall pay for booklets or other testing material, scoring services, and training required to administer the test.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall create a pilot project to identify which second grade reading tests selected under section 2 of this act will be included in the final collection of tests that must be available by June 30, 1998.

(2) Schools and school districts may voluntarily participate in the second grade reading test pilot projects in the 1997-98 school year. Schools and school districts voluntarily participating in the pilot project test are not required to have the results available by the fall parent-teacher conference.

(3)(a) Starting in the 1998-99 school year, school districts must select a test from the collection adopted by the superintendent of public instruction. Selection must be at the entire school district level and must remain in place at that school district for at least three years.

(b) Students who score substantially below grade level when tested in the fall shall be tested at least one more time during the second grade. Test performance deemed to be "substantially below grade level" is to be determined for each test in the collection by the superintendent of public instruction during the pilot year of 1997-98.

(c) Each school must have the test results available by the fall parent-teacher conference. Schools must notify parents about the second grade reading test during the conferences, inform the parents of their students' performance on the test, and provide parents with strategies to help the parents improve their child's score.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a second grade reading grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to train teachers in teaching methods that have proven results gathered through quantitative research, to assist all students in beginning reading, and to contribute to applied research on beginning reading.

(2) Schools and school districts may apply for second grade reading grants. To qualify for a grant, the grant proposal must provide that the grantee will conduct applied research in beginning reading using models of teaching methods and materials that are based on proven results gathered through quantitative research. To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall make initial grants available by September 1, 1997, for schools and school districts voluntarily participating in pilot projects under section 3 of this act. Subject to available funding, additional applications may be submitted to the superintendent of public instruction by September 1, 1998, and by September 1st in subsequent years. Grants will be awarded for one year only. The superintendent of public instruction shall award grants to train teachers in teaching methods that have proven results gathered through quantitative research to assist all students in beginning reading.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall coordinate grant awards under this section with other grant programs under RCW 28A.300.295 and any continuation of funding under RCW 28A.300.138. The superintendent of public instruction shall also coordinate with the center for the improvement of student learning for the purpose of providing assistance and evaluation services and to assure that results from grant activities contribute to a state-wide research base. The center for the improvement of student learning shall develop the grant application, design and conduct evaluations of the grants, and participate with the superintendent of public instruction in selection of grant awards. The evaluations of the grants shall review the effectiveness of the instructional models and their implementation.

(4) The superintendent of public instruction shall submit biennially to the legislature and the governor a report on the one-year second grade reading grant programs. The first report must be submitted not later than December 1, 1999, and each succeeding report must be submitted not later than December 1st of each odd-numbered year. Reports must include information on how the schools and school districts used the grant money, what types of second grade reading model teaching methods were used, and how they were implemented.

(5) The superintendent of public instruction shall disseminate information to the school districts five years after the beginning of the grant program regarding the results of the effectiveness of the models of teaching methods and materials and implementation strategies.

(6) Funding under this section shall not become part of the state's basic program of education obligation as set forth under Article IX of the state Constitution.

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.230.190 and 1990 c 101 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every school district is encouraged to test pupils in grade two by an assessment device designed or selected by the school district. This test shall be used to help teachers in identifying those pupils in need of assistance in the skills of reading, writing, mathematics, and language arts. The test results are not to be compiled by the superintendent of public instruction, but are only to be used by the local school district. School districts shall test students for second grade reading accuracy and fluency skills starting in the 1998-99 school year as provided in section 3 of this act.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall prepare and conduct, with the assistance of school districts, a standardized achievement test to be given annually to all pupils in grade four. The test shall assess students' skill in reading, mathematics, and language arts and shall focus upon appropriate input variables. Results of such tests shall be compiled by the superintendent of public instruction, who shall make those results available annually to the legislature, to all local school districts and subsequently to parents of those children tested. The results shall allow parents to ascertain the achievement levels and input variables of their children as compared with the other students within the district, the state and, if applicable, the nation.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall report annually to the legislature on the achievement levels of students in grade four.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. RCW 28A.630.886 and 1995 c 303 s 2 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction may use up to one percent of the appropriated funds for administration of the second grade reading grant program established in chapter . . ., Laws of 1997 (this act).

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt timelines and rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to administer the reading grant program in section 2 of this act.

(3) Funding under this section shall not become a part of the state's basic program of education obligation as set forth under Article IX of the state Constitution.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. If specific funding for section 4 of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 1997, in the omnibus appropriations act, sections 4 and 7 of this act are null and void.