FINAL BILL REPORT

ESB 6456

C 37 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing the academic achievement and accountability commission to set performance improvement goals for certain disaggregated groups of students and dropout goals.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Kohl‑Welles, Winsley and Keiser; by request of Governor Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington State School Directors Association, A+ Commission and State Board of Education.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committee on Education

Background:  In 1999, the Legislature gave the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission the authority to adopt, in rule, student performance improvement goals in reading, mathematics, writing and science.  Prior to implementing any new goal, the commission must present the goal to the Legislature for review and comment.

Summary:  Student performance improvement goals adopted by the commission must not conflict with the 2002 re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  The goals may be established for all students, for economically disadvantaged students, limited English proficient students, students with disabilities, and students from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are disproportionately underachieving academically.  The results of schools and districts that test fewer than ten students in a grade level are not reported to protect the privacy of the students.

The commission may also establish school and school district goals addressing high school graduation rates and dropout reduction goals for students in grades seven through 12.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate490

House970

Effective:  June 13, 2002