BILL REQ. #:  S-4029.2 

Read first time 01/12/2006.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to a multiple measures approach to graduation requirements; amending RCW 28A.655.061, 28A.155.045, and 28A.230.090; adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to account for a student's entire high school academic history by using a weighted multiple measures approach to evaluate a student's readiness to graduate. This method recognizes all of the state's graduation requirements, considers the academic impact and benefit of each, and puts all in proper perspective. It honors a well-rounded, rigorous, and challenging educational experience that prepares our students for a changing and complex twenty-first century. It recognizes that while all students can learn at high levels, many demonstrate competencies through various strengths, learning styles, and different formats, and academically develop at different rates over time. It upholds all of the state's four learning goals throughout a student's high school tenure. It provides the opportunity to students to develop, grasp, and demonstrate many learning objectives, including those beyond the tenth grade. It will give students hope and reason to complete high school.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning with the class of 2008, every student shall be required to obtain an average minimum threshold value of sixty-five percent in relation to his or her performance in the high school assessment system, as calculated under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, in order to obtain a diploma. To qualify for graduation, a student must complete each of the five components in the high school assessment system. The high school assessment system is comprised of the following five components:
     (a) Computation of the average grade point for those courses required for graduation as determined by the state board of education;
     (b) Computation of the average grade point for those courses required locally for graduation;
     (c) Completion of the high school and beyond plan;
     (d) Completion of a culminating project; and
     (e) Student scores on the assessments established under RCW 28A.655.061 or 28A.155.045.
     (2)(a) Each component, except the component in subsection (1)(e) of this section, shall be evaluated using a four-point grading system. The state board of education shall establish guidelines for schools on how to establish the point values to be assigned within each of the four components of the high school assessment system.
     (b) The state board of education shall establish guidelines for how to allocate points related to subsection (1)(e) of this section but is not limited to using a four-point grading system.
     (c) In order to calculate the minimum threshold graduation percentage, the state board of education shall create a weighted graduation model where higher achievement on one component can offset lower achievement on another. In relation to subsection (1)(a) of this section, students must attain a minimum achievement of a passing grade on every course required for graduation in order to be eligible for graduation. In relation to subsection (1)(e) of this section, students must attain a minimum of level one in each section of the Washington assessment on student learning. The components in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section shall be equal to seventy percent weight of the whole on a one hundred percent scale.
     (d) The components in subsection (1)(c) through (e) of this section shall each have a ten percent weight of the whole on a one hundred percent scale.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.655.061 and 2004 c 19 s 101 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The high school assessment system shall include but ((need)) not be limited to the Washington assessment of student learning, opportunities for a student to retake the content areas of the assessment in which the student was not successful, and if approved by the legislature pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, one or more objective alternative assessments for a student to demonstrate achievement of state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments for each content area shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington assessment of student learning for each content area.
     (2) Subject to the conditions in this section, a certificate of academic achievement ((shall be obtained by most students at about the age of sixteen, and)) is evidence that the students have successfully met the state standard in the content areas included in the certificate. ((With the exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045, acquisition of the certificate is required for graduation from a public high school but is not the only requirement for graduation.))
     (3) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, with the exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045, a student who meets the state standards on the reading, writing, and mathematics content areas of the high school Washington assessment of student learning shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. If a student does not successfully meet the state standards in one or more content areas required for the certificate of academic achievement, then the student may retake the assessment in the content area up to four times at no cost to the student. If the student successfully meets the state standards on a retake of the assessment then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. Once objective alternative assessments are authorized pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, a student may use the objective alternative assessments to demonstrate that the student successfully meets the state standards for that content area if the student has retaken the Washington assessment of student learning at least once. If the student successfully meets the state standards on the objective alternative assessments then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. ((The student's transcript shall note whether the certificate of academic achievement was acquired by means of the Washington assessment of student learning or by an alternative assessment.))
     (4) Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, a student must meet the state standards in science in addition to the other content areas required under subsection (3) of this section on the Washington assessment of student learning or the objective alternative assessments in order to earn a certificate of academic achievement.
     (5) The state board of education may not require the acquisition of the certificate of academic achievement for students in home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW, for students enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or for students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045.
     (6) A student may retain and use the highest result from each successfully completed content area of the high school assessment.
     (7) ((Beginning with the graduating class of 2006, the highest scale score and level achieved in each content area on the high school Washington assessment of student learning shall be displayed on a student's transcript. In addition,)) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, each student shall receive a scholar's designation on his or her transcript for each content area in which the student achieves level four the first time the student takes that content area assessment.
     (8) Beginning in 2006, school districts must make available to students the following options:
     (a) To retake the Washington assessment of student learning up to four times in the content areas in which the student did not meet the state standards if the student is enrolled in a public school; or
     (b) To retake the Washington assessment of student learning up to four times in the content areas in which the student did not meet the state standards if the student is enrolled in a high school completion program at a community or technical college. The superintendent of public instruction and the state board for community and technical colleges shall jointly identify means by which students in these programs can be assessed.
     (9) Students who achieve the standard in a content area of the high school assessment but who wish to improve their results shall pay for retaking the assessment, using a uniform cost determined by the superintendent of public instruction.
     (10) Subject to available funding, the superintendent shall pilot opportunities for retaking the high school assessment beginning in the 2004-05 school year. Beginning no later than September 2006, opportunities to retake the assessment at least twice a year shall be available to each school district.
     (11) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop options for implementing objective alternative assessments, which may include an appeals process, for students to demonstrate achievement of the state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington assessment of student learning and be objective in its determination of student achievement of the state standards. Before any objective alternative assessments are used by a student to demonstrate that the student has met the state standards in a content area required to obtain a certificate, the legislature shall formally approve the use of any objective alternative assessments through the omnibus appropriations act or by statute or concurrent resolution.
     (12) By December 15, 2004, the house of representatives and senate education committees shall obtain information and conclusions from recognized, independent, national assessment experts regarding the validity and reliability of the high school Washington assessment of student learning for making individual student high school graduation determinations.
     (13) To help assure continued progress in academic achievement as a foundation for high school graduation and to assure that students are on track for high school graduation, each school district shall prepare plans for students as provided in this subsection (13).
     (a) Student learning plans are required for eighth through twelfth grade students who were not successful on any or all of the content areas of the Washington assessment for student learning during the previous school year. The plan shall include the courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be taken by the student to meet state academic standards and stay on track for graduation. This requirement shall be phased in as follows:
     (i) Beginning no later than the 2004-05 school year ninth grade students as described in this subsection (13)(a) shall have a plan.
     (ii) Beginning no later than the 2005-06 school year and every year thereafter eighth grade students as described in this subsection (13)(a) shall have a plan.
     (iii) The parent or guardian shall be notified, preferably through a parent conference, of the student's results on the Washington assessment of student learning, actions the school intends to take to improve the student's skills in any content area in which the student was unsuccessful, strategies to help them improve their student's skills, and the content of the student's plan.
     (iv) Progress made on the student plan shall be reported to the student's parents or guardian at least annually and adjustments to the plan made as necessary.
     (b) Beginning with the 2005-06 school year and every year thereafter, all fifth grade students who were not successful in one or more of the content areas of the fourth grade Washington assessment of student learning shall have a student learning plan.
     (i) The parent or guardian of a student described in this subsection (13)(b) shall be notified, preferably through a parent conference, of the student's results on the Washington assessment of student learning, actions the school intends to take to improve the student's skills in any content area in which the student was unsuccessful, and provide strategies to help them improve their student's skills.
     (ii) Progress made on the student plan shall be reported to the student's parents or guardian at least annually and adjustments to the plan made as necessary.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.155.045 and 2004 c 19 s 104 are each amended to read as follows:
     Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, students served under this chapter, who are not appropriately assessed by the high school Washington assessment system as defined in RCW 28A.655.061, even with accommodations, may earn a certificate of individual achievement. The certificate may be earned using multiple ways to demonstrate skills and abilities commensurate with their individual education programs. The determination of whether the high school assessment system is appropriate shall be made by the student's individual education program team. ((For these students, the certificate of individual achievement is required for graduation from a public high school, but need not be the only requirement for graduation.)) When measures other than the high school assessment system as defined in RCW 28A.655.061 are used, the measures shall be in agreement with the appropriate educational opportunity provided for the student as required by this chapter. The superintendent of public instruction shall develop the guidelines for determining which students should not be required to participate in the high school assessment system and which types of assessments are appropriate to use.
     When measures other than the high school assessment system as defined in RCW 28A.655.061 are used for high school graduation purposes, the student's high school transcript shall note whether that student has earned a certificate of individual achievement.
     Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny a student the right to participation in the high school assessment system as defined in RCW 28A.655.061, and, upon successfully meeting the high school standard, receipt of the certificate of academic achievement.

Sec. 5   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) 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) ((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)) Students must have met the requirements of the high school assessment system in section 2 of this act.
     (c) 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.