BILL REQ. #:  H-3469.4 

Read first time 01/10/2006.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to high school completion programs; amending RCW 28B.50.535, 28A.230.120, 28A.655.061, 28B.15.520, and 28B.15.067; adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the goal of Washington's education reform is for all students to meet rigorous academic standards so that they are prepared for success in college, work, and life. Educators know that not all students learn at the same rate or in the same way. Some students will take longer to meet the state's standards for high school graduation. Older students who cannot graduate with their peers need an appropriate learning environment and flexible programming that enables them simultaneously to earn a diploma, work, and pursue other training options. Providing learning options in locations in addition to high schools will encourage older students to complete their diplomas. The legislature further finds that the state's commitment to providing a basic education for all public school students under the age of twenty-one should continue until a student earns a diploma. Therefore the legislature intends to expand high school completion programs at community and technical colleges for older students who have not yet received a diploma but are eligible for state basic education support.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.50.535 and 1991 c 238 s 58 are each amended to read as follows:
     A community or technical college may issue a high school diploma or certificate, subject to rules ((and regulations promulgated)) adopted by the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In accordance with this section, each community or technical college shall make available courses or a program of study designed to enable students under the age of twenty-one who have completed all state high school graduation requirements except the certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual achievement to complete their high school education and obtain a high school diploma.
     (a) Colleges may make courses or programs under this section available by entering into contracts with local school districts to deliver the courses or programs at locations other than the high school campus. Colleges that offer courses or programs under contract shall be reimbursed for each enrolled eligible student as provided in the contract, and the high school diploma shall be issued by the local school district;
     (b) Colleges may deliver courses or programs under this section directly. Colleges that deliver courses or programs directly shall be reimbursed for each enrolled eligible student as provided in section 4 of this act, and the high school diploma shall be issued by the college; or
     (c) Colleges may make courses or programs under this section available through a combination of contracts with local school districts and direct service delivery.
     (2) Regardless of the service delivery method chosen, colleges shall ensure that all eligible students have an opportunity to enroll in a course or program under this section.
     (3) Colleges shall not require students enrolled under this section to pay tuition or services and activities fees, however this waiver of tuition and services and activities fees shall be in effect only for those courses that lead to a high school diploma.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For purposes of this section and section 3 of this act, "eligible student" means a student who has completed all minimum state high school graduation requirements except the certificate of academic achievement under RCW 28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement under RCW 28A.155.045, and who is less than age twenty-one as of September 1st of the academic year the student enrolls at a community and technical college under this section.
     (2) An eligible student may enroll in courses or a program of study made available by a community or technical college under section 3 of this act for the purpose of obtaining a high school diploma.
     (3) For eligible students in courses or programs delivered directly by the community or technical college under section 3 of this act and only for enrollment in courses that lead to a high school diploma, the superintendent of public instruction shall transmit to the college an amount per each full-time equivalent college student at statewide uniform rates. The amount shall be the sum of (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection, as applicable.
     (a) The superintendent shall separately calculate and allocate moneys appropriated for basic education under RCW 28A.150.260 for purposes of making payments under this section. The calculations and allocations shall be based upon the estimated statewide annual average per full-time equivalent high school student allocations under RCW 28A.150.260, excluding small high school enhancements, and applicable rules adopted under chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (b) The superintendent shall allocate an amount equal to the per funded student state allocation for the learning assistance program under chapter 28A.165 RCW for each full-time equivalent college student or a pro rata amount for less than full-time enrollment.
     (c) For eligible students who meet eligibility criteria for the state transitional bilingual instruction program under chapter 28A.180 RCW, the superintendent shall allocate an amount equal to the per student state allocation for the transitional bilingual instruction program or a pro rata amount for less than full-time enrollment.
     (4) The superintendent may adopt rules establishing enrollment reporting, recordkeeping, and accounting requirements necessary to ensure accountability for the use of basic education, learning assistance, and transitional bilingual program funds under this section.
     (5) All school districts shall provide information about the high school completion option under section 3 of this act to students in grades ten, eleven, and twelve and the parents or guardians of those students.

Sec. 5   RCW 28A.230.120 and 2003 c 234 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) School districts shall issue diplomas to students signifying graduation from high school upon the students' satisfactory completion of all local and state graduation requirements. Districts shall grant students the option of receiving a final transcript in addition to the regular diploma. Students who satisfactorily complete all local and state graduation requirements except the certificate of academic achievement under RCW 28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement under RCW 28A.155.045 may participate in high school graduation ceremonies.
     (2) School districts or schools of attendance shall establish policies and procedures to notify senior students of the transcript option and shall direct students to indicate their decisions in a timely manner. School districts shall make appropriate provisions to assure that students who choose to receive a copy of their final transcript shall receive such transcript after graduation.
     (3)(a) A school district may issue a high school diploma to a person who:
     (i) Is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States;
     (ii) Was scheduled to graduate from high school in the years 1940 through 1955; and
     (iii) Left high school before graduation to serve in World War II or the Korean conflict.
     (b) A school district may issue a diploma to or on behalf of a person otherwise eligible under (a) of this subsection notwithstanding the fact that the person holds a high school equivalency certification or is deceased.
     (c) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt a form for a diploma application to be used by a veteran or a person acting on behalf of a deceased veteran under this subsection (3). The superintendent of public instruction shall specify what constitutes acceptable evidence of eligibility for a diploma.

Sec. 6   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) of this section, one or more objective alternative assessments for a student to demonstrate achievement of state academic standards. 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 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 the high school Washington assessment of student learning shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. If a student does not successfully meet the state standards 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 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) of this section, a student may use the objective alternative assessments to demonstrate that the student successfully meets the state standards 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 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) A student may retain and use the highest result from each successfully completed content area of the high school assessment.
     (7) 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) 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 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 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) Students who achieve the standard in 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) 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) 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. 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. Before any objective alternative assessments are used by a student to demonstrate that the student has met the state standards 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) 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) 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).
     (a) Student learning plans are required for eighth through twelfth grade students who were not successful 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 meet state academic standards and stay on track for graduation. If applicable, the plan shall also include the high school completion option created under section 3 of this act. 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)(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)(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, 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 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)(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, 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.

Sec. 7   RCW 28B.15.520 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the community colleges may:
     (1) Waive all or a portion of tuition fees and services and activities fees for:
     (a) Students nineteen years of age or older who are eligible for resident tuition and fee rates as defined in RCW 28B.15.012 through 28B.15.015 ((and)), who enroll in a course of study or program which will enable them to finish their high school education and obtain a high school diploma or certificate, but who are not eligible students as defined by section 4 of this act; and
     (b) Children of any law enforcement officer or fire fighter who lost his or her life or became totally disabled in the line of duty while employed by any public law enforcement agency or full time or volunteer fire department in this state: PROVIDED, That such persons may receive the waiver only if they begin their course of study at a community college within ten years of their graduation from high school;
     (2) Waive all or a portion of the nonresident tuition fees differential for:
     (a) Nonresident students enrolled in a community college course of study or program which will enable them to finish their high school education and obtain a high school diploma or certificate but who are not eligible students as defined by section 4 of this act. The waiver shall be in effect only for those courses which lead to a high school diploma or certificate; and
     (b) Up to forty percent of the students enrolled in the regional education program for deaf students, subject to federal funding of such program.

Sec. 8   RCW 28B.15.067 and 2003 c 232 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Tuition fees shall be established under the provisions of this chapter.
     (2) Beginning with the 2003-04 academic year and ending with the 2008-09 academic year, reductions or increases in full-time tuition fees for resident undergraduates shall be as provided in the omnibus appropriations act.
     (3) Beginning with the 2003-04 academic year and ending with the 2008-09 academic year, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the state board for community and technical colleges may reduce or increase full-time tuition fees for all students other than resident undergraduates, including summer school students and students in other self-supporting degree programs. Percentage increases in full-time tuition fees may exceed the fiscal growth factor. Reductions or increases may be made for all or portions of an institution's programs, campuses, courses, or students.
     (4) Academic year tuition for full-time students at the state's institutions of higher education beginning with 2009-10, other than summer term, shall be as charged during the 2008-09 academic year unless different rates are adopted by the legislature.
     (5) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not apply to high school students enrolling in participating institutions of higher education under RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.400.
     (6) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not apply to eligible students enrolling in a community or technical college under section 3 of this act for the purpose of obtaining a high school diploma.
     (7) For the academic years 2003-04 through 2008-09, the University of Washington shall use an amount equivalent to ten percent of all revenues received as a result of law school tuition increases beginning in academic year 2000-01 through academic year 2008-09 to assist needy low and middle income resident law students.
     (((7))) (8) For the academic years 2003-04 through 2008-09, institutions of higher education shall use an amount equivalent to ten percent of all revenues received as a result of graduate academic school tuition increases beginning in academic year 2003-04 through academic year 2008-09 to assist needy low and middle-income resident graduate academic students.