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SECOND ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2195
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State of Washington58th Legislature2003 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives McDermott, Talcott, Quall, Tom and Haigh)

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/03.   



     AN ACT Relating to state academic standards; amending RCW 28A.230.090, 28A.195.010, 28A.200.010, 28A.655.070, and 28A.655.030; adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 28A.655.060; and declaring an emergency.

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

PART 1
CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 101   A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 RCW to read as follows:
     CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS. (1) The high school assessment system shall include but need not be limited to the Washington assessment of student learning, opportunities for a student to retake the content areas of the assessment in which the student was not successful, and one or more alternative means for a student to demonstrate achievement of state academic standards. The alternative means for each content area shall be comparable in rigor to the Washington assessment of student learning for each content area.
     (2) Subject to the conditions in this section, beginning with the graduating class of 2008, successful completion of the reading, writing, and mathematics content areas of the high school Washington assessment of student learning, or of an approved alternative means in those content areas as provided in subsection (10) of this section, shall lead to a certificate of academic achievement. The certificate of academic achievement shall be obtained by most students at about the age of sixteen, and is evidence that the students have successfully met the state standard in the content areas included in the certificate. The certificate of academic achievement is required for graduation from a public high school but is not the only requirement for graduation.
     (3) Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, successful completion of the reading, writing, mathematics, and science content areas of the high school Washington assessment of student learning, or of an approved alternative means in those content areas, is required for graduation from a public high school in the state of Washington and shall lead to a certificate of academic achievement.
     (4) The state board of education may not require the acquisition of the certificate of academic achievement for students in home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW or for students enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW.
     (5) A student may retain and use the highest result from each successfully completed content area of the high school assessment.
     (6) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, the highest level achieved in each content area on the high school Washington assessment of student learning shall be displayed on a student's transcript. In addition, beginning with the graduating class of 2008, each student shall receive a scholar's designation on his or her transcript for each content area in which the student achieves level four.
     (7) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, if a student takes the high school assessment but is not successful in one or more content areas required for the certificate of academic achievement, the student may retake the assessment in that content area one or more times at no cost to the student and may choose one or more of the following options:
     (a) To retake the assessment in that content area at least once in the spring and once in the fall or winter if the student is enrolled in a public school;
     (b) To retake the assessment in that content area if the student is enrolled in a high school completion program. The superintendent of public instruction and the state board for community and technical colleges shall jointly identify means by which students in these programs can be assessed; or
     (c) To use an alternative means developed and approved by the superintendent of public instruction to demonstrate achievement of the standards for that content area if the student has retaken the assessment in that content area at least once.
     (8) Students who achieve the standard in a content area of the high school assessment of student learning but who wish to improve their results shall pay for retaking the assessment, using a uniform cost determined by the superintendent of public instruction.
     (9) Subject to available funding, the superintendent shall pilot both opportunities for retaking the high school assessment and alternative means beginning in the 2005-06 school year. Beginning no later than September 2006, opportunities to retake the assessment at least once in the fall or winter and once in the spring shall be available in each school district.
     (10) Beginning no later than spring 2007, subject to formal legislative approval of the alternative means, alternative means shall be in place in each school district to demonstrate achievement of the state standards in a content area in which the student was unsuccessful on the Washington assessment of student learning. Through the omnibus appropriations act, or by statute or concurrent resolution, the legislature shall formally approve the use of any alternative means, including any appeals process, before its implementation as part of the high school assessment system.
     (11) Beginning no later than September 1, 2006, each school district shall prepare a plan for each eighth grade through twelfth grade student who was not successful in one or more content areas of the Washington assessment of student learning. The plan shall include, but need not be limited to, the courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be taken by the student to meet state academic standards and stay on track for graduation. Progress on the plan shall be reported to the student and the student's parents or guardian. In addition, through a parent conference, schools must notify the parent or guardian of each eighth grade student about the student's results on theassessment of student learning, identify actions the school intends to take to improve the student's skills in any content area in which the student was unsuccessful, and provide the parents or guardian with strategies to help them improve their student's skills in that content area.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 102   CERTIFICATE REPORTS REQUIRED ON THE APPROPRIATE APPLICATION OF THE CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT TO SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, THE CUT SCORES REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE CERTIFICATE, ALTERNATIVE MEANS, AND ISSUES RELATED TO VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY. (1) By November 30, 2003, subject to available funding, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report recommendations to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees on the appropriate application of the certificate of academic achievement to special education students and limited English proficiency students and recommendations on the best practices that may be used with students who need additional assistance to meet the certificate requirements. In the superintendent's deliberations, the superintendent shall consult with practicing teachers and principals, practicing special education practitioners including educational staff associates, parents, education organizations, and other interested parties.
     (2) Before the results of the 2004 high school assessment of student learning are reported to school districts, the academic achievement and accountability commission shall review and adjust, if necessary, the performance standards needed to meet the high school standards and obtain a certificate of academic achievement as provided in section 101 of this act. The commission shall include in its review consideration of the use of the standard error of measurement into the decision regarding the award of the certificate of academic achievement. To assist in its deliberations, the commission shall seek advice from a committee that includes parents, practicing classroom teachers and principals, administrators, staff, and other interested parties.
     (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop alternative means for students to demonstrate achievement of the state academic standards. The alternative means shall becomparable in rigor to the Washington assessment of student learning and shall include procedures and criteria to help determine whether students who were not successful in one or more of the content areas of the high school assessment can demonstrate that they meet state standards through another objectively evaluated means. In its deliberations, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall consult with parents, administrators, practicing classroom teachers including teachers in career and technical education, practicing principals, appropriate agencies, professional organizations, assessment experts, and other interested parties.
     (a) By July 1, 2004, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report its recommendations for alternative means, including possible options and a possible appeals process, to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees.
     (b) By July 1, 2005, subject to available funding, alternative means shall be available for pilot testing by school districts.
     (c) By December 1, 2006, the superintendent shall report to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees on information obtained through the pilots of the alternative means. The report shall include an analysis of the comparative rigor of the alternative means to the Washington assessment of student learning for that content area.
     (d) Through the omnibus appropriations act, or by statute or concurrent resolution, the legislature shall formally approve the use of any alternative means, including any appeals process, before its implementation as a part of the high school assessment system.
     (4) By November 30, 2004, the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education shall provide to the house of representatives and senate education committees all available pertinent studies, information, and independent third-party analyses on the validity and reliability of the high school assessment system, especially as it pertains to the use of the system for individual student decisions.

Sec. 103   RCW 28A.230.090 and 1997 c 222 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HIGHSCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING LOCAL DETERMINATION OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENT SUCCESS. (1) The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students.
     (a) Any course in Washington state history and government used to fulfill high school graduation requirements is encouraged to include information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first inhabitants of the state.
     (b) The certificate of academic achievement requirements under section 101 of this act are required for graduation from a public high school but are not the only requirements for graduation.
     (c) Any decision on whether a student has met the state board's high school graduation requirements for a high school and beyond plan shall remain at the local level.

     (2) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board of education to establish and enforce minimum high school graduation requirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate the graduation requirements and shall report such findings to the legislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board.
     (3) Pursuant to any requirement for instruction in languages other than English established by the state board of education or a local school district, or both, for purposes of high school graduation, students who receive instruction in American sign language or one or more American Indian languages shall be considered to have satisfied the state or local school district graduation requirement for instruction in one or more languages other than English.
     (4) If requested by the student and his or her family, a student who has completed high school courses before attending high school shall be given high school credit which shall be applied to fulfilling high school graduation requirements if:
     (a) The course was taken with high school students, if the academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes, and the student has successfully passed by completing the same course requirements and examinations as the high school students enrolled in the class; or
     (b) The academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes and the course would qualify for highschool credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a course offered at a high school in the district as determined by the school district board of directors.
     (5) Students who have taken and successfully completed high school courses under the circumstances in subsection (4) of this section shall not be required to take an additional competency examination or perform any other additional assignment to receive credit. Subsection (4) of this section shall also apply to students enrolled in high school on April 11, 1990, who took the courses before attending high school.
     (6) At the college or university level, five quarter or three semester hours equals one high school credit.

Sec. 104   RCW 28A.195.010 and 1993 c 336 s 1101 are each amended to read as follows:
     CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS EXEMPTED. The legislature hereby recognizes that private schools should be subject only to those minimum state controls necessary to insure the health and safety of all the students in the state and to insure a sufficient basic education to meet usual graduation requirements. The state, any agency or official thereof, shall not restrict or dictate any specific educational or other programs for private schools except as hereinafter in this section provided.
     Principals of private schools or superintendents of private school districts shall file each year with the state superintendent of public instruction a statement certifying that the minimum requirements hereinafter set forth are being met, noting any deviations. After review of the statement, the state superintendent will notify schools or school districts of those deviations which must be corrected. In case of major deviations, the school or school district may request and the state board of education may grant provisional status for one year in order that the school or school district may take action to meet the requirements. Minimum requirements shall be as follows:
     (1) The minimum school year for instructional purposes shall consist of no less than one hundred eighty school days or the equivalent in annual minimum program hour offerings as prescribed in RCW 28A.150.220.
     (2) The school day shall be the same as that required in RCW 28A.150.030 and 28A.150.220, except that the percentages of totalprogram hour offerings as prescribed in RCW 28A.150.220 for basic skills, work skills, and optional subjects and activities shall not apply to private schools or private sectarian schools.
     (3) All classroom teachers shall hold appropriate Washington state certification except as follows:
     (a) Teachers for religious courses or courses for which no counterpart exists in public schools shall not be required to obtain a state certificate to teach those courses.
     (b) In exceptional cases, people of unusual competence but without certification may teach students so long as a certified person exercises general supervision. Annual written statements shall be submitted to the office of the superintendent of public instruction reporting and explaining such circumstances.
     (4) An approved private school may operate an extension program for parents, guardians, or persons having legal custody of a child to teach children in their custody. The extension program shall require at a minimum that:
     (a) The parent, guardian, or custodian be under the supervision of an employee of the approved private school who is certified under chapter 28A.410 RCW;
     (b) The planning by the certified person and the parent, guardian, or person having legal custody include objectives consistent with this subsection and subsections (1), (2), (5), (6), and (7) of this section;
     (c) The certified person spend a minimum average each month of one contact hour per week with each student under his or her supervision who is enrolled in the approved private school extension program;
     (d) Each student's progress be evaluated by the certified person; and
     (e) The certified employee shall not supervise more than thirty students enrolled in the approved private school's extension program.
     (5) Appropriate measures shall be taken to safeguard all permanent records against loss or damage.
     (6) The physical facilities of the school or district shall be adequate to meet the program offered by the school or district: PROVIDED, That each school building shall meet reasonable health and fire safety requirements. However, the state board shall not require private school students to meet the student learning goals, obtain a certificate of ((mastery)) academic achievement to graduate from highschool, to master the essential academic learning requirements, or to be assessed pursuant to ((RCW 28A.630.885)) section 101 of this act. However, private schools may choose, on a voluntary basis, to have their students master these essential academic learning requirements, take these assessments, and obtain certificates of ((mastery)) academic achievement. A residential dwelling of the parent, guardian, or custodian shall be deemed to be an adequate physical facility when a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody is instructing his or her child under subsection (4) of this section.
     (7) Private school curriculum shall include instruction of the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of appreciation of art and music, all in sufficient units for meeting state board of education graduation requirements.
     (8) Each school or school district shall be required to maintain up-to-date policy statements related to the administration and operation of the school or school district.
     All decisions of policy, philosophy, selection of books, teaching material, curriculum, except as in subsection (7) ((above)) of this section provided, school rules and administration, or other matters not specifically referred to in this section, shall be the responsibility of the administration and administrators of the particular private school involved.

Sec. 105   RCW 28A.200.010 and 1995 c 52 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - STUDENTS IN HOME-BASED INSTRUCTION EXEMPTED. (1) Each parent whose child is receiving home- based instruction under RCW 28A.225.010(4) shall have the duty to:
     (((1))) (a) File annually a signed declaration of intent that he or she is planning to cause his or her child to receive home-based instruction. The statement shall include the name and age of the child, shall specify whether a certificated person will be supervising the instruction, and shall be written in a format prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction. Each parent shall file the statement by September 15th of the school year or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester with the superintendent of the public school district within which theparent resides or the district that accepts the transfer, and the student shall be deemed a transfer student of the nonresident district. Parents may apply for transfer under RCW 28A.225.220;
     (((2))) (b) Ensure that test scores or annual academic progress assessments and immunization records, together with any other records that are kept relating to the instructional and educational activities provided, are forwarded to any other public or private school to which the child transfers. At the time of a transfer to a public school, the superintendent of the local school district in which the child enrolls may require a standardized achievement test to be administered and shall have the authority to determine the appropriate grade and course level placement of the child after consultation with parents and review of the child's records; and
     (((3))) (c) Ensure that a standardized achievement test approved by the state board of education is administered annually to the child by a qualified individual or that an annual assessment of the student's academic progress is written by a certificated person who is currently working in the field of education. The state board of education shall not require these children to meet the student learning goals, master the essential academic learning requirements, to take the assessments, or to obtain a certificate of ((mastery)) academic achievement pursuant to ((RCW 28A.630.885)) section 101 of this act. The standardized test administered or the annual academic progress assessment written shall be made a part of the child's permanent records. If, as a result of the annual test or assessment, it is determined that the child is not making reasonable progress consistent with his or her age or stage of development, the parent shall make a good faith effort to remedy any deficiency.
     (2) Failure of a parent to comply with the duties in this section shall be deemed a failure of such parent's child to attend school without valid justification under RCW 28A.225.020. Parents who do comply with the duties set forth in this section shall be presumed to be providing home-based instruction as set forth in RCW 28A.225.010(4).

PART 2
ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 201   ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS - REPORT REQUIRED ON ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES, THE ARTS, AND HEALTH AND FITNESS. By September 1, 2004, the superintendent of public instruction, after consultation with parents, practicing classroom teachers and principals, education organizations, and other interested parties, shall report to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees with assessment options and other strategies to assure continued support and attention to the essential academic learning requirements in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness in elementary, middle, and high schools. The options shall include a recommended timeline for implementation of those recommendations the legislature adopts. The options may include recommendations on the design, administration, scoring, and reporting of classroom or performance-based assessments for these content areas. The options may also include local and state reporting requirements in these content areas.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 202   ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS - REPORTS REQUIRED ON THE ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS, THE RESULTS OF INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON ALIGNMENT AND TECHNICAL REVIEW, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF RETURNING ASSESSMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. (1) Subject to available funding, the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees on the results of independent research on the alignment and technical review of the reading, writing, and science content areas of the Washington assessment of student learning for elementary and middle grades and for high school. The review shall be comparable to the research conducted on the mathematics assessments and shall be reported in accordance with the following timelines:
     (a) In the content areas of reading and writing by November 1, 2004; and
     (b) In the content area of science by November 1, 2006.
     (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall report to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees on the review,prioritization, and identification of the essential academic learning requirements and grade level content expectations in accordance with the following timelines:
     (a) In the content areas of reading, writing, math, and science by November 1, 2004;
     (b) In the content area of social studies by November 1, 2005;
     (c) In the content area of the arts by November 1, 2006; and
     (d) In the content area of health and fitness by November 1, 2007.
     (3) By November 30, 2003, the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the governor, the state board of education, and the house of representatives and senate education committees on the feasibility of returning the results of the Washington assessment of student learning, including individual student performance information, to schools, teachers, and parents in the same school year in which the assessment is administered.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 203   A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:
     ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS. By the end of the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall have in place in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools assessments or other strategies to assure that students have an opportunity to learn the essential academic learning requirements in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness.

Sec. 204   RCW 28A.655.070 and 1999 c 388 s 501 are each amended to read as follows:
     ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS - DUTIES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop essential academic learning requirements that identify the knowledge and skills all public school students need to know and be able to do based on the student learning goals in RCW 28A.150.210, develop student assessments, and implement the accountability recommendations and requests regarding assistance, rewards, and recognition of the academic achievement and accountability commission.
     (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall:
     (a) P
eriodically revise the essential academic learning requirements, as needed, based on the student learning goals in RCW 28A.150.210. Goals one and two shall be considered primary. To the maximum extent possible, the superintendent shall integrate goal four and the knowledge and skill areas in the other goals in the essential academic learning requirements; and
     (b) Review and prioritize the essential academic learning requirements and identify, with clear and concise descriptions, the grade level content expectations to be assessed on the Washington assessment of student learning and used for state or federal accountability purposes. The review, prioritization, and identification shall result in more focus and targeting with an emphasis on depth over breadth in the number of grade level content expectations assessed at each grade level. Grade level content expectations shall be articulated over the grades as a sequence of expectations and performances that are logical, build with increasing depth after foundational knowledge and skills are acquired, and reflect, where appropriate, the sequential nature of the discipline. The office of the superintendent of public instruction, within seven working days, shall post on its web site any grade level content expectations provided to an assessment vendor for use in constructing the Washington assessment of student learning
.
     (3) In consultation with the academic achievement and accountability commission, the superintendent of public instruction shall maintain and continue to develop and revise a statewide academic assessment system in the content areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science for use in the elementary, middle, and high school years designed to determine if each student has mastered the essential academic learning requirements identified in subsection (1) of this section. School districts shall administer the assessments under guidelines adopted by the superintendent of public instruction. The academic assessment system shall include a variety of assessment methods, including criterion-referenced and performance-based measures.
     (4) If the superintendent proposes any modification to the essential academic learning requirements or the statewide assessments, then the superintendent shall, upon request, provide opportunities for the education committees of the house of representatives and the senateto review the assessments and proposed modifications to the essential academic learning requirements before the modifications are adopted.
     (5)(a)
The assessment system shall be designed so that the results under the assessment system are used by educators as tools to evaluate instructional practices, and to initiate appropriate educational support for students who have not mastered the essential academic learning requirements at the appropriate periods in the student's educational development.
     (((5))) (b) Assessments measuring the essential academic learning requirements in the content area of science shall be available for mandatory use in middle schools and high schools by the 2003-04 school year and for mandatory use in elementary schools by the 2004-05 school year unless the legislature takes action to delay or prevent implementation of the assessment.
     (6) By September 2006, the results for reading and mathematics shall be reported in a format that will allow parents and teachers to determine the academic gain a student has acquired in those content areas from one school year to the next.
     (7) In order to assist parents and teachers in their efforts to provide educational support to individual students, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide as much individual student performance information as possible within the constraints of the assessment system's item bank. The superintendent shall also provide to school districts information on classroom-based and other assessments that may provide additional achievement information for individual students.
     (8)
To the maximum extent possible, the superintendent shall integrate knowledge and skill areas in development of the assessments.
     (((6))) (9) Assessments for goals three and four of RCW 28A.150.210 shall be integrated in the essential academic learning requirements and assessments for goals one and two.
     (((7))) (10) The superintendent shall develop assessments that are directly related to the essential academic learning requirements, and are not biased toward persons with different learning styles, racial or ethnic backgrounds, or on the basis of gender.
     (((8))) (11) The superintendent shall consider methods to address the unique needs of special education students when developing the assessments under this section.
     (((9))) (12) The superintendent shall consider methods to address the unique needs of highly capable students when developing the assessments under this section.
     (13) The superintendent shall post on the superintendent's web site, for optional use by schools and school districts, lists of resources and model assessments in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness.

Sec. 205   RCW 28A.655.030 and 2002 c 37 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS - DUTIES OF THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION. The powers and duties of the academic achievement and accountability commission shall include, but are not limited to the following:
     (1) For purposes of statewide accountability, the commission shall:
     (a) Adopt and revise performance improvement goals in reading, writing, science, and mathematics by subject and grade level as the commission deems appropriate to improve student learning, once assessments in these subjects are required statewide. The goals shall be consistent with student privacy protection provisions of RCW 28A.655.090(7) and shall not conflict with requirements contained in Title I of the federal elementary and secondary education act of 1965, as amended. The goals may be established for all students, economically disadvantaged students, limited English proficient students, students with disabilities, and students from disproportionately academically underachieving racial and ethnic backgrounds. The commission may establish school and school district goals addressing high school graduation rates and dropout reduction goals for students in grades seven through twelve. ((The goals shall be in addition to any goals adopted in RCW 28A.655.050. The commission may also revise any goal adopted in RCW 28A.655.050.)) The commission shall adopt the goals by rule. However, before each goal is implemented, the commission shall present the goal to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate for the committees' review and comment in a time frame that will permit the legislature to take statutory action on the goal if such action is deemed warranted by the legislature;
     (b) Identify the scores students must achieve in order to meet the standard on the Washington assessment of student learning and, for high school students, obtain a certificate of academic achievement. The commission shall also determine student scores that identify levels of student performance below and beyond the standard. The commission shall consider the incorporation of the standard error of measurement into the decision regarding the award of the certificate of academic achievement. The commission shall set such performance standards and levels in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction and after consideration of any recommendations that may be developed by any advisory committees that may be established for this purpose. Beginning in 2004, if the commission makes any adjustment of the student performance standards, then the commission shall present the recommended performance standard to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate by November 30th of the year before the school year in which the changes will take place in order to permit the legislature to take statutory action before the changes are implemented if such action is deemed warranted by the legislature. Any new or revised performance standard the commission plans to use for 2004 assessments shall be presented to the legislature by January 1, 2004;
     (c) Adopt objective, systematic criteria to identify successful schools and school districts and recommend to the superintendent of public instruction schools and districts to be recognized for two types of accomplishments, student achievement and improvements in student achievement. Recognition for improvements in student achievement shall include consideration of one or more of the following accomplishments:
     (i) An increase in the percent of students meeting standards. The level of achievement required for recognition may be based on the achievement goals established by the legislature ((under RCW 28A.655.050)) and by the commission under (a) of this subsection;
     (ii) Positive progress on an improvement index that measures improvement in all levels of the assessment; and
     (iii) Improvements despite challenges such as high levels of mobility, poverty, English as a second language learners, and large numbers of students in special populations as measured by either the percent of students meeting the standard, or the improvement index.
     When determining the baseline year or years for recognizing individual schools, the commission may use the assessment results from the initial years the assessments were administered, if doing so with individual schools would be appropriate;
     (d) Adopt objective, systematic criteria to identify schools and school districts in need of assistance and those in which significant numbers of students persistently fail to meet state standards. In its deliberations, the commission shall consider the use of all statewide mandated criterion-referenced and norm-referenced standardized tests;
     (e) Identify schools and school districts in which state intervention measures will be needed and a range of appropriate intervention strategies, beginning no earlier than June 30, 2001, and after the legislature has authorized a set of intervention strategies. Beginning no earlier than June 30, 2001, and after the legislature has authorized a set of intervention strategies, at the request of the commission, the superintendent shall intervene in the school or school district and take corrective actions. This chapter does not provide additional authority for the commission or the superintendent of public instruction to intervene in a school or school district;
     (f) Identify performance incentive systems that have improved or have the potential to improve student achievement;
     (g) Annually review the assessment reporting system to ensure fairness, accuracy, timeliness, and equity of opportunity, especially with regard to schools with special circumstances and unique populations of students, and a recommendation to the superintendent of public instruction of any improvements needed to the system;
     (h) Annually report by December 1st to the legislature, the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the state board of education on the progress, findings, and recommendations of the commission. The report may include recommendations of actions to help improve student achievement;
     (i) By December 1, 2000, and by December 1st annually thereafter, report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate on the progress that has been made in achieving ((the reading goal under RCW 28A.655.050 and any additional)) goals adopted by the commission;
     (j) Coordinate its activities with the state board of education and the office of the superintendent of public instruction;
     (k) Seek advice from the public and all interested educational organizations in the conduct of its work; and
     (l) Establish advisory committees, which may include persons who are not members of the commission;
     (2) Holding meetings and public hearings, which may include regional meetings and hearings;
     (3) Hiring necessary staff and determining the staff's duties and compensation. However, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide staff support to the commission until the commission has hired its own staff, and shall provide most of the technical assistance and logistical support needed by the commission thereafter. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall be the fiscal agent for the commission. The commission may direct the office of the superintendent of public instruction to enter into subcontracts, within the commission's resources, with school districts, teachers, higher education faculty, state agencies, business organizations, and other individuals and organizations to assist the commission in its deliberations; and
     (4) Receiving per diem and travel allowances as permitted under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 206   ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS - RCW 28A.655.060 REPEALED. RCW 28A.655.060 (Essential academic learning requirements -- Statewide academic assessment system -- Certificate of mastery -- Educational pathways -- Accountability -- Reports and recommendations -- Washington commission on student learning, creation and expiration) and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 20 s 1, 1999 c 373 s 501, 1998 c 225 s 1, & 1997 c 268 s 1 are each repealed.

PART 3
MISCELLANEOUS

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 301   Part headings and captions used in this act are not any part of the law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 302   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, theremainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 303   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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