3127 AMH HASE REAM 080
HB 3127 - H AMD 771
By Representative Hasegawa
WITHDRAWN 2/14/2006
On page 11, after line 2, insert the following:
"Sec. 14. RCW 28A.655.061 and 2004 c 19 s 101 are each amended
to read as follows:
(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 if approved
by the legislature pursuant to subsection (((11))) (10) of this
section, one or more objective alternative assessments for a
student to demonstrate achievement of state academic ((standards))
requirements. The objective alternative assessments for each
content area shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and
knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington
assessment of student learning for each content area.
(2) Subject to the conditions in this section, a 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)) requirements in the content
areas included in the certificate. With the exception of students
satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045, acquisition of the
certificate is required for graduation from a public high school
but is not the only requirement for graduation.
(3) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, with the
exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045,
a student who meets the ((state standards on the reading, writing,
and mathematics content areas of)) requirements of subsection (13)
of this section onthe high school Washington assessment of student
learning shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. If a
student does not successfully meet the state ((standards))
requirements in one or more content areas required for the
certificate of academic achievement, then the student may retake
the assessment in the content area up to four times at no cost to
the student. If the student successfully meets the state
((standards)) requirements on a retake of the assessment then the
student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. Once
objective alternative assessments are authorized pursuant to
subsection (((11))) (10) of this section, a student may use the
objective alternative assessments to demonstrate that the student
successfully meets the state ((standards)) requirements for that
content area if the student has retaken the Washington assessment
of student learning at least once. If the student successfully
meets the state ((standards)) requirements on the objective
alternative assessments then the student shall earn a certificate
of academic achievement. The student's transcript shall note
whether the certificate of academic achievement was acquired by
means of the Washington assessment of student learning or by an
alternative assessment.
(4) ((Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, a student
must meet the state standards in science in addition to the other
content areas required under subsection (3) of this section on the
Washington assessment of student learning or the objective
alternative assessments in order to earn a certificate of academic
achievement.
(5))) 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, for students
enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or for
students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045.
(((6))) (5) A student may retain and use the highest result from
each successfully completed content area of the high school assessment.
(((7))) (6) Beginning with the graduating class of 2006, the
highest scale score and 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 the first time the
student takes that content area assessment.
(((8))) (7) Beginning in 2006, school districts must make
available to students the following options:
(a) To retake the Washington assessment of student learning up
to four times in the content areas in which the student did not
meet the state ((standards)) requirements if the student is
enrolled in a public school; or
(b) To retake the Washington assessment of student learning up
to four times in the content areas in which the student did not
meet the state ((standards)) requirements for a certificate of
academic achievement if the student is enrolled in a high school
completion program at a community or technical college. 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.
(((9))) (8) Students who achieve the ((standard)) state
requirementin a content area of the high school assessment but who
wish to improve their results shall pay for retaking the
assessment, using a uniform cost determined by the superintendent
of public instruction.
(((10))) (9) Subject to available funding, the superintendent
shall pilot opportunities for retaking the high school assessment
beginning in the 2004-05 school year. Beginning no later than
September 2006, opportunities to retake the assessment at least
twice a year shall be available to each school district.
(((11))) (10) The office of the superintendent of public
instruction shall develop options for implementing objective
alternative assessments, which may include an appeals process, for
students to demonstrate achievement of the ((state academic
standards))certificate of academic achievement. The objective
alternative assessments shall be comparable in rigor to the skills
and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington
assessment of student learning and be objective in its
determination of student achievement of the state ((standards))
requirements. Before any objective alternative assessments are used
by a student to demonstrate that the student has met the state
((standards)) requirements in a content area required to obtain a
certificate, the legislature shall formally approve the use of any
objective alternative assessments through the omnibus
appropriations act or by statute or concurrent resolution.
(((12))) (11) By December 15, 2004, the house of representatives
and senate education committees shall obtain information and
conclusions from recognized, independent, national assessment
experts regarding the validity and reliability of the high school
Washington assessment of student learning for making individual
student high school graduation determinations.
(((13))) (12) To help assure continued progress in academic
achievement as a foundation for high school graduation and to
assure that students are on track for high school graduation, each
school district shall prepare plans for students as provided in
this subsection (((13))) (12).
(a) Student learning plans are required for eighth through
twelfth grade students who were not ((successful)) proficient on
any or all of the content areas of the Washington assessment for
student learning during the previous school year. The plan shall
include the courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be
taken by the student to meetthe state ((academic standards))
requirements and stay on track for graduation. This requirement
shall be phased in as follows:
(i) Beginning no later than the 2004-05 school year ninth grade
students as described in this subsection (((13))) (12)(a) shall
have a plan.
(ii) Beginning no later than the 2005-06 school year and every
year thereafter eighth grade students as described in this
subsection (((13))) (12)(a) shall have a plan.
(iii) The parent or guardian shall be notified, preferably through
a parent conference, of the student's results on the Washington
assessment of student learning, actions the school intends to take
to improve the student's skills in any content area in which the
student was ((unsuccessful)) not proficient, strategies to help
them improve their student's skills, and the content of the
student's plan.
(iv) Progress made on the student plan shall be reported to the
student's parents or guardian at least annually and adjustments to
the plan made as necessary.
(b) Beginning with the 2005-06 school year and every year
thereafter, all fifth grade students who were not
((successful))proficient in one or more of the content areas of the
fourth grade Washington assessment of student learning shall have
a student learning plan.
(i) The parent or guardian of a student described in this
subsection (((13))) (12)(b) shall be notified, preferably through
a parent conference, of the student's results on the Washington
assessment of student learning, actions the school intends to take
to improve the student's skills in any content area in which the
student was ((unsuccessful)) not proficient, and provide strategies
to help them improve their student's skills.
(ii) Progress made on the student plan shall be reported to the
student's parents or guardian at least annually and adjustments to
the plan made as necessary.
(13) In order to meet state requirements and earn a certificate
of academic achievement, a student must meet or exceed either the
proficient or basic level on the high school Washington assessment
of student learning as follows:
(a) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008 and until July
31, 2010, the student must meet or exceed the proficient level in
one out of three and meet or exceed the basic level in two out of
three of the reading, writing, and mathematics content areas on the
high school Washington assessment of student learning or an
approved alternative assessment;
(b) Beginning August 1, 2010, and until July 31, 2014, the
student must meet or exceed the proficient level in two out of four
and meet or exceed the basic level in two out of four of the
reading, writing, mathematics, and science content areas on the
high school Washington assessment of student learning or an
approved alternative assessment;
(c) Beginning August 1, 2014, and until July 31, 2017, the
student must meet or exceed the proficient level in three out of
four of the reading, writing, mathematics, and science content
areas on the high school Washington assessment of student learning
or an approved alternative assessment; and
(d) Beginning August 1, 2017, and thereafter, a student must
meet or exceed the proficient level in all four content areas of
reading, writing, mathematics, and science on the high school
Washington assessment of student learning or an approved
alternative assessment."
Renumber remaining sections consecutively and correct internal references accordingly.
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Provides for the gradual implementation of the requirement that students meet or exceed the proficient level on all four (reading, writing, mathematics, and science) content areas of the Washington assessment of student learning (WASL). Beginning with August 1, 2017, all students must meet or exceed the proficient level on all four content areas of the WASL or an approved alternative assessment.