HOUSE BILL REPORT
EHB 2579
As Amended by the Senate
Title: An act relating to educational assessments.
Brief Description: Requiring classroom-based civics assessments.
Sponsors: By Representatives Upthegrove, Lantz, Dickerson, Appleton, Morrell, Hasegawa, Quall, Hunter, Haler, O'Brien, Murray, Hunt, Schual-Berke, Ormsby, Springer and Moeller.
Brief History:
Education: 1/19/06, 2/2/06 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/13/06, 83-15.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 3/2/06, 44-1.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; P. Sullivan, Vice Chair; Haigh, Hunter, McDermott, Santos, Tom and Wallace.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Priest and Shabro.
Staff: Sarah Ream (786-7303).
Background:
The goals of the Basic Education Act include providing students with opportunities to
develop the knowledge and skills essential to know and apply the core concepts and
principals of, among other subjects, civics, history, and geography. The Superintendent of
Public Instruction (SPI) must develop Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR's)
in line with these goals.
Students in elementary, middle, and high school are required to learn the state's EALRs in
social studies. The State Board of Education's regulations define social studies to include
history, geography, and civics. By the 2008-09 school year, school districts must have
assessments or other strategies in place to ensure their students have had an opportunity to
learn the EALRs in social studies.
Washington law requires students to study the state and federal Constitutions before
graduating from the state's public or private schools. In addition, public schools are required
to have flag exercises at the start of the day, observe Temperance and Good Citizenship Day
on January 16, and provide educational activities in observance of Veteran's Day.
Summary of Engrossed Bill:
Social studies is defined to include history, geography, civics, economics, and social studies
skills.
Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, students in grades 4, 5, 7 or 8, and 11 or 12 will
complete a classroom-based assessment in civics. Districts have the option of selecting their
assessment from a list provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(OSPI) of approved assessments. School districts must submit a verification report to the
OSPI documenting the districts' use of a classroom-based assessment in civics.
EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):
The Senate's amendment adds a section to this bill that is largely the same HB 3145,
introduced by Representative P. Sullivan this year. The section directs OSPI to work with the
county auditors' offices of up to 15 selected counties to develop a civics curriculum pilot
project. The curriculum must include, but is not limited to, (1) local government
organization, (2) discussion of ballot measures, initiatives, and referenda, (3) the role of
precincts in defining ballots, candidates, and political activities, (4) the roles and
responsibilities of taxing jurisdictions in establishing ballot measures, and (5) the work of
conducting elections. OSPI is directed to develop a curriculum guide that incorporates ideas
from other Washington civics education programs. The pilot project will operate for the
2006-07 and 2007-08 school years. OSPI will provide an interim report to the Legislature by
December 1, 2008, and a final report by December 1, 2009, regarding the results of the
projects and recommendations, if any, for expansion of the project.
Appropriation: The sum of $25,000, from the State General Fund, is appropriated to the OSPI to provide competitive grants to school districts for activities that support the civics assessment.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (In support) A healthy democracy and informed citizenry depends on an
educated populace. It is critical that students understand the role they play in our democracy.
Civics education is one of the basics, along with reading, writing, and math, and is essential
to the school curriculum. However, student learning regarding civics is declining and
students' knowledge of civics is alarmingly bad. This bill is essential to ensure universal
exposure of students to civics and removes the loophole that allows districts to use
assessments or "other strategies" with regard to ensuring student learning of civics.
Assessments that have already been piloted exist, so districts do not have to reinvent the
wheel. Civics instruction is already required. This bill ensures that it is taught.
(With concerns) It is important that students learn and understand civics. However, the
current classroom-based assessment of social studies includes civics. This bill represents
"requirement creep." It also highlights that the high stakes nature of the Washington
Assessment of Student Learning is impacting teaching of Goal Two areas. Social studies is
tied into history. A person whose history is taken away is a person without hope. African-American history is just as important as the history of any other people, but it is not included
in the curriculum. It is important that the curriculum reflect the history of people of color.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Upthegrove, prime sponsor; Representative
Lantz; Judith Billings, Council on Public Legal Education; Russ Lehman, Olympia,
Washington School Board; Patrick Palace, Washington State Bar Association; Catherine Ahl,
Washington State League of Women Voters; and Rowland Thompson, Allied Dailies.
(With concerns) Alton McDonald, National Action Network; and Gary King, Washington
Education Association.