BILL REQ. #:  H-4708.2 

Read first time 01/31/2006.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring a study of mathematics curricula; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that in 2003, the United States ranked below at least ten other countries in the mathematics scores of elementary and middle school students on the trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS) assessment. Since 1995, there has been little or no change in the performance of our nation's students in mathematics. Conversely, students from the nation of Singapore continually score at the very top of students in other countries on the TIMSS assessment, and their scores are well above the international average. The legislature further finds that a key reason for the high level of performance of Singapore students is a coherent, sequenced mathematics curriculum that focuses on the core skills of mathematical problem solving. Therefore, the legislature intends to direct a study of whether to require statewide adoption of the syllabus and curriculum framework for mathematics used by Singapore.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct a comparative study of curriculum frameworks, learning standards, assessment methods, and course sequencing in mathematics. The purpose of the study is to provide objective analysis to inform the legislature on whether to require statewide adoption of the mathematics syllabus and curriculum framework used by Singapore.
     (2) The study shall:
     (a) Examine a sample of mathematics instructional models used at the elementary and secondary level by other states and other countries including the model used by schools in Singapore;
     (b) Compare and contrast the mathematics instructional models to Washington's essential academic learning requirements, grade level expectations, and the Washington assessment of student learning for mathematics. The comparison shall also include a sample of the curriculum and course sequencing used by primary and secondary schools in Washington;
     (c) Analyze and compare data on student competencies and student achievement in mathematics under each of the instructional models, including student achievement in Washington; and
     (d) Summarize the research literature on the efficacy of various mathematics instructional models including the model expected under Washington's standards and assessment system.
     (3) The institute shall issue a report to the education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2006, in order to assist policymakers in their consideration of requiring statewide adoption of the mathematics syllabus and curriculum framework used by Singapore.