HB 2210-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Finds that, by law and rule, beginning with the class of 2008, students will be required to pass the state high school assessment in a number of subjects before they are permitted to graduate from public high schools.

     Declares it is the responsibility of the legislature to determine when passage of the high school assessment in each subject becomes a high school graduation requirement.

     Finds that there is a need to develop one or more rigorous, reliable, and valid alternative methods to evaluate whether high school students have met the state's academic standards.

     Declares an intent to clarify the dates by which passage of the Washington assessment of student learning becomes required for high school graduation.  The legislature also intends to clarify the types of opportunities students will have to retake the assessments.

     Forms an advisory committee that will recommend strategies to help all students meet the state's high school graduation requirements.  The legislature further intends that the committee recommend one or more alternative methods to assess whether high school students have achieved the state's essential academic learning requirements.

     Requires the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with a representative of the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative education committees, to review the statutory timelines for the arts, fitness, and health assessments based on the assessment system described in this section.  By November 1, 2001, the superintendent of public instruction shall report and make recommendations to the governor and the legislative education and fiscal committees on the following:

     (1) An appropriate timeline for instituting a statewide juried performance-based high school assessment system leading to an endorsement in the arts;

     (2) An appropriate timeline for instituting a statewide performance-based high school assessment system leading to an endorsement in fitness;

     (3) An appropriate timeline for creating a locally based assessment system for the arts and fitness in elementary and middle and junior high schools;

     (4) An appropriate timeline for creating a locally based assessment system in health and the appropriate grades in which to assess students in that subject; and

     (5) Whether the statutory timelines in RCW 28A.655.060(3)(c) will give the superintendent, working in cooperation with educators and experts in the arts, fitness, and health, sufficient time to establish the assessment system described in this section.

     Repeals 1995 c335 s804 (uncodified) and 1994 c245 s16 (uncodified).