S-0400.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5042

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators Benton and Patterson

Read first time 01/13/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Requiring a weighting system for honors classes grades to be used in determining standardized grade points for high school transcripts.

    AN ACT Relating to standardized high school transcripts; and amending RCW 28A.305.220.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.305.220 and 1984 c 178 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The state board of education shall develop for use by all public school districts a standardized high school transcript.  The state board of education shall establish clear definitions for the terms "credits" and "hours" so that school programs operating on the quarter, semester, or trimester system can be compared.

    (2) When determining standardized grade points under subsection (1) of this section, the state board of education shall adopt a weighting system for grades earned in honors and advanced placement classes.

(3) Transcripts are important documents to students who will apply for admission to postsecondary institutions of higher education.  Transcripts are also important to students who will seek employment upon or prior to graduation from high school.  It is recognized that student transcripts may be the only record available to employers in their decision-making processes regarding prospective employees.  The superintendent of public instruction shall require school districts to inform annually all high school students that prospective employers may request to see transcripts and that the prospective employee's decision to release transcripts can be an important part of the process of applying for employment.

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