[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the Washington assessment of student learning; and amending RCW 28A.230.195 and 28A.655.090.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.230.195 and 1999 c 373 s 603 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If students' scores on the test or assessments under RCW 28A.230.190, 28A.230.193, 28A.230.230, and ((~~28A.630.885~~)) 28A.655.060 indicate that students need help in identified areas, the school district shall evaluate its instructional practices and make appropriate adjustments.

(2) Each school district shall notify the parents of each student of their child's performance on the test and assessments conducted under this chapter.

(3) After the office of the superintendent of public instruction has verified that the school district data are complete and accurate, the Washington assessment of student learning test booklets shall be redistributed to the schools. The schools shall make available each student's test booklet to that student's teacher to use as a diagnostic tool to help the student meet the state standards.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.655.090 and 1999 c 388 s 301 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) By September 10, 1998, and by September 10th each year thereafter, the superintendent of public instruction shall report to schools, school districts, and the legislature on the results of the Washington assessment of student learning and state-mandated norm-referenced standardized tests.

(2) The reports shall include the assessment results by school and school district, and include changes over time. For the Washington assessment of student learning, results shall be reported as follows:

(a) The percentage of students meeting the standards;

(b) The percentage of students performing at each level of the assessment; and

(c) A learning improvement index that shows changes in student performance within the different levels of student learning reported on the Washington assessment of student learning.

(3) The reports shall contain data regarding the different characteristics of schools, such as poverty levels, percent of English as a second language students, dropout rates, attendance, percent of students in special education, and student mobility so that districts and schools can learn from the improvement efforts of other schools and districts with similar characteristics.

(4) The reports shall contain student scores on mandated tests by comparable Washington schools of similar characteristics.

(5) The reports shall contain information on public school choice options available to students, including vocational education.

(6) The reports shall be posted on the superintendent of public instruction's internet web site.

(7) To protect the privacy of students, the results of schools and districts that test fewer than ten students in a grade level shall not be reported. In addition, in order to ensure that results are reported accurately, the superintendent of public instruction shall maintain the confidentiality of statewide data files until the superintendent determines that the data are complete and accurate.

(8) After the office of the superintendent of public instruction has verified that the school district data are complete and accurate, the Washington assessment of student learning test booklets shall be redistributed to the schools. The schools shall make available each student's test booklet to that student's teacher to use as a diagnostic tool to help the student meet the state standards.

(9) The superintendent of public instruction shall monitor the percentage and number of special education and limited English-proficient students exempted from taking the assessments by schools and school districts to ensure the exemptions are in compliance with exemption guidelines.