BILL REQ. #:  H-4837.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to creating a career and technical high school graduation option for students meeting state standards in fundamental academic content areas; amending RCW 28A.230.090, 28A.230.100, and 28A.225.290; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28C.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that Washington's performance-based education system should seek not only to provide fundamental academic knowledge and skills for all students, but also provide the opportunity for students to acquire knowledge and skills likely to contribute to their own economic well-being and that of their families and communities.
     (2) The legislature recognizes that although career and technical options are available for students, other credit and course-oriented graduation requirements beyond those necessary to assure students meet fundamental academic standards may be prohibiting students from pursuing a high quality career and technical education pathway.
     (3) Furthermore, not enough high schools or school districts take advantage of their opportunity to offer course credits, including credits toward graduation requirements, for knowledge and skills in fundamental academic content areas that students gain in career and technical education courses.
     (4) Therefore the legislature intends to create a rigorous and high quality career and technical high school graduation option that assures students meet state standards in fundamental academic content areas, reflects nationally recognized standards for the knowledge and skills needed to pursue employment and careers in technical fields, and provides students with flexibility in other areas such as social studies, health and fitness, or the arts. It is the legislature's intent that the career and technical education within the new graduation option be extensive and reflective of a significant, multiyear commitment by the student.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each high school or school district board of directors shall adopt course equivalencies for career and technical high school courses offered to students at the high school. A career and technical course equivalency may be for whole or partial credit. Each school district board of directors shall develop a course equivalency approval procedure.
     (2) Career and technical courses determined to be equivalent to academic core courses, in full or in part, by the high school or school district shall be accepted as meeting core requirements, including graduation requirements, if the courses are recorded on the student's transcript using the equivalent academic high school department designation and title. Full or partial credit shall be recorded as appropriate.

Sec. 3   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, except those equivalencies established by local high schools or school districts under section 2 of this act.
     (a) The board shall establish a career and technical high school graduation option that:
     (i) Requires completion of coursework in the fundamental academic content areas necessary to prepare students to obtain the certificate of academic achievement under RCW 28A.655.061;
     (ii) Requires completion of a career and technical education program approved by the superintendent of public instruction under section 5 of this act and attainment of the nationally recognized certificate or credential associated with the program; and
     (iii) May contain other course requirements, but shall permit students to not meet all of the state standards in content areas not assessed by the Washington assessment of student learning so that students may focus on completing the requirements under (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.
     (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.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.230.100 and 1991 c 116 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, to implement the course requirements set forth in RCW 28A.230.090, including the career and technical high school graduation option. The rules shall include, as the state board deems necessary, granting equivalencies for and temporary exemptions from the course requirements in RCW 28A.230.090 and special alterations of the course requirements in RCW 28A.230.090. In developing such rules the state board shall recognize the relevance of vocational and applied courses and allow such courses to fulfill in whole or in part the courses required for graduation in RCW 28A.230.090, as determined by the high school or school district in accordance with section 2 of this act. The rules may include provisions for competency testing in lieu of such courses required for graduation in RCW 28A.230.090 or demonstration of specific skill proficiency or understanding of concepts through work or experience.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 28C.04 RCW to read as follows:
     The superintendent of public instruction shall develop a list of approved career and technical education programs that qualify for the high school graduation option under RCW 28A.230.090. Programs on the list must meet the following minimum criteria:
     (1) Lead to a certificate or credential that is state or nationally recognized by trades, industries, or other professional associations as necessary for employment or advancement in that field;
     (2) Require a sequenced progression of multiple courses, both exploratory and preparatory, that are vocationally intensive and rigorous; and
     (3) Have a high potential for providing the program completer with gainful employment or entry into a postsecondary work force training program.

Sec. 6   RCW 28A.225.290 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 9 s 207 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall prepare and annually distribute an information booklet outlining parents' and guardians' enrollment options for their children.
     (2) Before the 1991-92 school year, the booklet shall be distributed to all school districts by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. School districts shall have a copy of the information booklet available for public inspection at each school in the district, at the district office, and in public libraries.
     (3) The booklet shall include:
     (a) Information about enrollment options and program opportunities, including but not limited to programs in RCW 28A.225.220, 28A.185.040, 28A.225.200 through 28A.225.215, 28A.225.230 through 28A.225.250, ((28A.175.090,)) 28A.340.010 through 28A.340.070 (small high school cooperative projects), and 28A.335.160((.));
     (b) Information about the running start ((- community college or vocational-technical institute choice)) high school and college dual enrollment program under RCW 28A.600.300 through ((28A.600.395)) 28A.600.400; ((and))
     (c) Information about the seventh and eighth grade choice program under RCW 28A.230.090; and
     (d) Information about high school graduation requirements, including the career and technical high school graduation option under RCW 28A.230.090.