1569-S AAS 4/12/99 GOLD 001

SHB 1569 - S AMD - 334

    By Senators McAuliffe and Finkbeiner

                                                   ADOPTED 4/12/99

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the purpose of Washington's accountability system is to improve student learning and student achievement of the essential academic learning standards.  The legislature finds that only thirty-one percent of students who took the 1998 fourth grade Washington assessment of student learning met the standard for proficiency in mathematics.  The legislature also finds that only twenty percent of students who took the seventh grade trial assessment met the standard for proficiency in mathematics.  The legislature intends to identify best practices in mathematics instruction for current and prospective mathematics teachers in the elementary and middle grades, and to provide training opportunities for teachers in using those instructional methods to help students in the classroom.

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

    (1) The excellence in mathematics training program is established to improve the mathematics performance of elementary, middle and junior high school students.  The purpose of the program is to improve students' proficiency in mathematics by enhancing teachers' skills in using teaching methods that have been proven to be effective based upon empirical research.  The program shall be administered by the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

    (2) The superintendent of public instruction, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall establish training programs in mathematics instruction and assessment for educators working with elementary, middle, and junior high school students.  The programs shall be designed to prepare educators to select and implement appropriate instructional strategies and effective programs to improve mathematics instruction.  Funds, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall be used to develop training programs and to provide the training to the educators both through institutes and in the classroom during the school year.  In selecting educators to participate in the program, the superintendent shall give priority to educators from schools and schools districts in which a significant portion of the students performed below standard on one or more mathematics assessments."

SHB 1569 - S AMD - 334

    By Senators McAuliffe and Finkbeiner

                                                   ADOPTED 4/12/99

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, strike the remainder of the title and insert" adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW, and creating a new section."

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EFFECT: Establishes a training program for mathematics instruction in elementary, middle and junior high school