SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5823

As Passed Senate, February 15, 2002

Title:  An act relating to repealing student improvement goals.

Brief Description:  Repealing student improvement goals.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senator McAuliffe; by request of Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/8/01, 2/27/01 [DP, DNP]; 1/23/02 [DPS].

Passed Senate:  2/15/02, 42-5.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5823 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Carlson, Finkbeiner, Johnson, Kohl‑Welles, Prentice, Rasmussen, Regala and Zarelli.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786‑7422)

Background:  The Legislature has statutorily required school districts to establish three-year performance improvement goals to increase the number of students meeting or exceeding the reading standard on the fourth grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), and the mathematics standard on the fourth and seventh grade WASL.  At a minimum, the district goal must be to decrease by at least 25 percent the number of students who did not meet the standards.

In 1999, the Legislature gave the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission the authority to adopt and revise performance improvement goals in reading, mathematics, writing, and science by rule.  In 2001, the commission adopted in WAC 3-20-100 the three-year goals in reading and mathematics for grades 4, 7 and 10.  The commission retained the minimum decrease of 25 percent.

Summary of Bill:  The current statutory performance improvement goals for fourth grade reading and fourth and seventh grade mathematics are repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The commission is in the process of adopting, in rule, new three‑year goals in reading and math for grades 4, 7, and 10.  The goals would use 2001 as a baseline.  The minimum goal is the same:  decrease by at least 25 percent the number of students who did not meet the standards in 2001.  School districts can set more ambitious goals, if they choose to do so.  The goal will be in effect until 2004.  The goal will apply to individual schools as well as school districts.  The commission intends to hold a public hearing on the draft rules on April 2.  The effective date of these rules is September 1, 2001, which is when SB 5823 repeals the current goals, which are in statute.  These goals are essential to help focus improvement in student achievement.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Patrick Patrick, Chair, Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission.