READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to requiring a more rigorous curriculum for high school graduation; amending RCW 28A.230.090; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that, although students are being expected to meet higher academic standards as defined by the essential academic learning requirements, there is still a gap between what is required for high school graduation and the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in college or work. This gap is particularly noticeable in mathematics. To make progress in assuring that a high school diploma reflects adequate preparation for the intellectual demands of adult life, the legislature intends to phase in a more rigorous mathematics requirement for high school graduation.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.230.090 and 2005 c 205 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students.
     (a) Beginning with the class of students entering ninth grade in the 2008-09 school year, minimum high school graduation requirements shall include the equivalent of three credits of mathematics, including at least algebra I and geometry or their equivalents. Beginning with the class of students entering ninth grade in the 2012-13 school year, minimum high school graduation requirements shall include the equivalent of four credits of mathematics, including at least algebra II and geometry or their equivalents plus a higher-level mathematics course designed to prepare students for postsecondary studies so they can avoid remedial college mathematics.
     (b) Any course in Washington state history and government used to fulfill high school graduation requirements shall consider including information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first inhabitants of the state.
     (((b))) (c) The certificate of academic achievement requirements under RCW 28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement requirements under RCW 28A.155.045 are required for graduation from a public high school but are not the only requirements for graduation.
     (((c))) (d) 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 high school 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.
     (6) At the college or university level, five quarter or three semester hours equals one high school credit.