BILL REQ. #:  H-4388.1 

Read first time 01/25/2006.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a certificate for students who meet certain high school graduation requirements; 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 high school graduating class of 2008 will be the first class that must pass the Washington assessment of student learning or an alternative assessment to earn the certificate of academic achievement required to obtain a high school diploma. However, the Washington assessment of student learning is not the only graduation requirement students must meet. While some students may need additional time beyond twelfth grade to pass the assessment, the legislature finds that it is important to recognize and celebrate the successes of students in meeting other graduation requirements. Therefore, the legislature intends to create a certificate to honor students' accomplishments while encouraging them to continue working toward a high school diploma.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning with the high school graduating class of 2008, a school district has the option to award a certificate of attainment to students who meet the criteria under this section. The certificate of attainment is not the equivalent of a high school diploma, but enables students to participate in commencement ceremonies.
     (2) To be eligible for a certificate of attainment, a student must:
     (a) Meet all state and local high school graduation requirements except for obtaining a certificate of academic achievement under RCW 28A.655.061 or a certificate of individual achievement under RCW 28A.155.045;
     (b) Have retaken the Washington assessment of student learning at least once;
     (c) Maintain at least a ninety percent attendance level during the senior year of high school, except that the school district superintendent may waive this requirement if the student provides documentation of circumstances such as illness that warrant this waiver; and
     (d) Meet with counselors and teachers to update the student's high school and beyond plan.