SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1998-8683

By Senator Stevens

     WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate concurs with the Higher Education Coordinating Board in recognizing its joint responsibility in helping to establish and maintain high standards in education for all students at all grade levels in Washington; and

     WHEREAS, The Higher Education Coordinating Board is required by law to set minimum requirements for admission to Washington's public baccalaureate institutions, as outlined in RCW 28B.80.350; and

     WHEREAS, The Senate and Higher Education Coordinating Board recognize the interest of parents in selecting the type of school their children attend; and

     WHEREAS, The Senate and Higher Education Coordinating Board recognize the excellent educational opportunities provided in this state by public schools, private schools, and home schools; and

     WHEREAS, The Senate and Higher Education Coordinating Board recognize that students from home schools, private schools, or restructured schools may present their academic credentials in a traditional transcript, with grade and core courses in a nontraditional transcript that describes their preparation in other ways; and

     WHEREAS, The Senate and Higher Education Coordinating Board recognize that only students who attend public schools in Washington will be required to attain a Certificate of Mastery; and

     WHEREAS, The Senate and Higher Education Coordinating Board recognize that all qualified students should receive due consideration for admission to Washington's public baccalaureate institutions;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate and Higher Education Coordinating Board and each public baccalaureate institution reaffirm their responsibility to all students, regardless of where they have attended school or the form of transcript they present to document their academic credentials, for determining the minimum core requirements have been met so that they can be considered for regular admission to a Washington state institution of higher education or university; and that the minimum core requirements for admission will not include the Certificate of Mastery for the students who are not home-schooled or who have attended private schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the current minimum admission requirement, that applicants submit scores from the standardized SAT or ACT tests, will continue to apply to all students, including those who have been home-schooled or who have attended private schools.