Brief Description: Requiring a study to explore options to augment the current educational assessment system.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe and Schmidt).

Hearing Date: 2/16/06

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, most students will be required to obtain a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) in order to graduate from a public high school in the state. Students must meet the state standards in reading, writing, and mathematics on the high school Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to earn a CAA. Science will be added in 2010. Starting in 2006, students will have four opportunities to retake the WASL in the content areas where they did not meet the state standard.

In 2004, the Legislature also authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop one or more objective alternative assessments for high school students to demonstrate they meet the state academic standards instead of relying on the WASL for this purpose. To use an alternative, a student must take the WASL at least twice. The Legislature must formally approve implementation of any alternative assessment.

Summary of Bill:

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) must conduct a study to explore options to augment the current system of assessments and provide additional opportunities for students to demonstrate they have met state learning standards.

The study is limited to the following items:

   1)   A statistical analysis of the characteristics of students not successful on the WASL and    identification of possible barriers or causes of the lack of success.

   (2)   Review of additional alternative assessment options to augment the current assessment system, including a review of alternative assessments used in other states and those used or proposed in Washington and a review of national tests and career skill certification exams. The review includes examination of costs for implementation, cultural appropriateness, reliability, equality in rigor to the WASL, and challenges to implementation.

   (3)   Review and identification of additional methods, procedures, or performance measures to assess whether students have met the learning standards. In addition to examining the topics listed above, this review examines whether the procedures can be standardized across the state.

An interim report is due December 1, 2006, that includes preliminary statistics and recommendations on at least two options. The final report is due December 1, 2007, and includes suggestions for additional studies.

The Institute must consult with nationally recognized assessment experts including representatives from national centers for multicultural education, the SPI, educators, parents, the business community, and representatives of Washington tribes, linguistic and racial minority groups, and the community of persons with disabilities. The SPI and school districts must provide access to necessary data to conduct the studies.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 15, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.