1569-S AMS EDU S2520.2

SHB 1569 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Education

                                               NOT 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 finds that the accountability system is designed to help schools, school districts, and the superintendent of public instruction decide how best to improve student performance.

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

    (1) In providing assistance to school districts, to the extent funds are available or appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall analyze the results of the Washington assessment of student learning.  The superintendent of public instruction shall use the analysis in designing how to best use state-level assistance programs, assistance through educational service districts, summer institutes, and any curriculum specialists.  The superintendent may focus assistance on specific grade levels, schools, and subject matter for a specific school year.

    (2) In developing state-level assistance programs, the use of curriculum specialists, assistance programs through educational service districts, and summer institutes for the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 school year, the superintendent of public instruction shall place appropriate emphasis on programs to enhance teaching skills in mathematics.  The superintendent shall look at providing training in teaching methods that have proven results gathered through empirical research.

    (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, through the center for the improvement of student learning, may contract with an independent contractor to conduct and disseminate a literature review of best practices in mathematics instruction and staff development in elementary and middle schools state-wide and nationally.

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

    Schools and school districts, when developing student learning improvement plans under section 401 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 5418 or section 301 of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1462, shall assess whether or not the plans provide for improving instruction in mathematics if a significant number of students performed below standard on one or more mathematics assessments.  In making this determination, districts shall:

    (1) Document whether or not the current instructional model or the instructional model that the school or district intends to implement has proven results gathered through empirical research; and

    (2) Determine whether a significant number of students are not achieving mathematics proficiency at grade level, as measured by the fourth grade assessment, the seventh grade assessment, or both.  If the fourth grade assessment results are not available, the school may use the results of the third grade norm-referenced standardized achievement test under RCW 28A.230.190."

SHB 1569 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Education

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "proficiency;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "adding new sections to Title 28A RCW; and creating a new section."

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