BILL REQ. #:  H-4116.1 

Read first time 01/18/2006.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to redefining the high school diploma; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   In 1993, Washington state embarked on an ambitious path to establish statewide standards for the knowledge, skills, and abilities that all students should know and be able to do before graduating from high school. The intent of Washington's education reform was to focus on the competencies desired of students at graduation. Since that time, a great deal of effort has gone into developing and implementing the state's essential academic learning requirements, grade level expectations, and statewide assessment system. However, the legislature finds that high school graduation requirements remain focused on accumulation of credits, taking a set of required courses, and achieving a particular score on a single assessment of learning. Furthermore, there is not a consensus within the state as to the overall purpose of the high school diploma and what accomplishment it is intended to signify. Therefore, the legislature intends to direct a critical reevaluation and redefinition of the high school diploma in Washington.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The state board of education shall develop and propose a revised definition of the purpose and expectations for high school diplomas issued by public schools in Washington state. The revised definition shall address whether attainment of a high school diploma is intended to signify that a student is ready for success in college, ready for successful and gainful employment in the workplace, or some combination of these and other objectives. The revised definition shall focus on the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students are expected to demonstrate to receive a high school diploma, as well as the various methods to be used to measure student performance, rather than focusing on courses, credits, seat time, and test scores.
     (2) In developing the revised definition of the high school diploma, the state board of education shall consult with educators, parents, institutions of higher education, employers, and community leaders. The board shall also work with the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, and the work force training and education coordinating board.
     (3) The state board of education shall submit the proposed revised definition of the high school diploma, along with any necessary revisions to state statutes and rules, to the education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2007.