BILL REQ. #:  S-4552.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/23/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing alternative methods of assessment and appeal processes for the certificate of academic achievement; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Under RCW 28A.655.061, beginning in the 2006-07 school year, the superintendent of public instruction shall implement two objective alternative assessment methods for students to demonstrate achievement of the state standards in content areas in which the student did not meet the standard on the high school Washington assessment of student learning. A student may access one or both of these alternatives if the student meets applicable eligibility criteria in RCW 28A.655.061. In addition to the eligibility criteria in RCW 28A.655.061, the superintendent of public instruction may require additional eligibility criteria.
     (2) The alternative methods shall include:
     (a) A combination of a student's grades in applicable courses and the student's highest score on the high school Washington assessment of student learning; and
     (b) An evaluation of a collection of work samples. The evaluation of the work samples shall be conducted at the state level or regionally under the supervision of the office of the superintendent of public instruction using uniform scoring criteria.
     (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall implement:
     (a) By June 1, 2006, a process for students to appeal the score they received on the high school assessment; and
     (b) By January 1, 2007, guidelines and appeal processes for waiving specific requirements in RCW 28A.655.061 pertaining to the certificate of academic achievement and to the certificate of individual achievement for students who: (i) Transfer to a Washington public school in their junior or senior year with the intent of obtaining a public high school diploma, or (ii) have special, unavoidable circumstances.
     (4)(a) The superintendent of public instruction shall study the feasibility of using existing mathematics assessments in languages other than English as an additional alternative assessment option. The study shall include an estimation of the cost of translating the tenth grade mathematics assessment into other languages and scoring the assessments should they be implemented.
     (b) The superintendent of public instruction shall begin development of an additional alternative assessment option for mathematics that: Presents the mathematics essential learnings in segments for assessment; is comparable in content and rigor to the tenth grade mathematics assessment when all segments are considered together; is reliable and valid; and can be used to determine a student's academic performance level.
     (c) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue reports to the legislature by January 2007, on the results of the study in (a) of this subsection and the development status of (b) of this subsection.
     (5) The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules to implement this section.