2SHB 2598

HOUSE BILL REPORT
2SHB 2598

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Amended by the Senate

Brief Description: Directing the office of the superintendent of public instruction to issue a request for proposals for development of an online mathematics curriculum.

Sponsors: By House Committee on App Subcom Ed (originally sponsored by Representatives Sullivan, Ormsby, Haigh, Schual-Berke, Green and Simpson).

Passed House: 2/13/08, 91-6.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 3/6/08, 47-1.
House Refused to Concur.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 3/11/08, 49-0.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; Barlow, Vice Chair; Haigh, Liias, Santos and Sullivan.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Priest, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Roach.

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Education. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Sullivan, Vice Chair; Priest, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Barlow, Crouse, Fromhold, Haler, Herrera, Jarrett, Kagi, Kenney, Ormsby, Quall, Seaquist, Springer and Wallace.

Background:

In 2007 the Legislature directed the State Board of Education (SBE) to review and recommend to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) revisions to Washington's Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) and Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) in mathematics. The OSPI was also required to revise the EALRs and the GLEs and present them to the SBE and the Legislature by January of 2008. Unless directed otherwise by the Legislature in the 2008 Session, the OSPI must adopt the revisions.

The SBE issued its report and recommendations in September of 2007. The OSPI posted its Review Draft of the new standards on January 21, 2008, and on January 31, 2008, the OSPI submitted the revised mathematics standards to the Legislature.

The OSPI was also directed to identify no more than three mathematics curricula each for elementary, middle, and high school grade spans that align with the new standards and present these to the SBE by May 15, 2008, for formal comment. The OSPI must make any changes based on the SBE's comments and recommendations and adopt the recommended curricula. Subject to funding and availability of curricula, at least one of the curricula in each grade span must be available online at no cost to schools and parents.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill:

The OSPI is directed to develop and issue a request for proposals (RFP) for private vendors or nonprofit organizations to adapt an existing mathematics curriculum to align it with Washington's EALRs and GLEs and make the curriculum available online at no cost to school districts. The online mathematics curriculum must cover course content in grades kindergarten through grade 10. Coverage of grades 10 and 11, to align with Washington's college readiness standards, is encouraged but not required.

Proposals submitted pursuant to the RFP must address cost and include timelines for development and implementation. The OSPI must review and analyze the responses and report the results of the RFP to the Governor and the education and fiscal committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2008.

The online curriculum will be one of the three curricula presented by the OSPI to the SBE following adoption of the mathematics standards. The timelines for presentation by the OSPI to the SBE, and for the SBE's comments and recommendations, are revised. The OSPI must present its recommendations to the SBE within six months after the standards are adopted, and the SBE then has two months to review and provide official comment.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

The amendment requires that the OSPI work with the SBE to develop the request for proposals within 30 days after the adoption of final revised mathematics standards. The amendment further provides that the online adaptation of an existing curriculum must cover course content in grades 11 and 12 and the state's college readiness standards in addition to content in grades kindergarten through 10. By November 15, 2008, the OSPI must conduct a survey, and report to the Legislature, regarding school districts' mathematics curricula in all grade levels and their textbook and curriculum purchasing cycles.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (Education)

(In support) The best curricula align only 70 percent with this state's standards. There has been some talk that Washington is not big enough to attract interest in developing curricula for this state's standards. This bill tests that supposition by requiring the issuance of a RFP to see if there is interest for developing a specific curriculum for Washington standards. The advantage to a single curriculum is that nothing is skipped. With the use of more than one curriculum, some students may not receive instruction in important concepts.

(In support with amendments) There is concern that the RFP seeks just a single math curriculum in light of the fact that studies have found that no one curriculum is best. For the short term, schools which have just purchased books should be allowed to continue to use these books and be provided with supplemental materials. The deadline of May 15, 2008, for the OSPI to present curricula to the SBE, as directed by 2007 legislation, should be extended.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (Appropriations Subcommittee on Education)

(In support) The OSPI supports the proposed substitute bill before the committee. The bill will allow teachers to have instructional materials aligned with new standards that will provide students opportunity for success. The bill also recognizes there are school districts that have spent lots of money on math instructional materials. The OSPI would come in with online curriculum and could go to publishers and ask them to come up with instructional materials that are aligned with the priorities they developed. The ultimate goal is to have instructional materials that are tightly aligned with student expectations. The proposed amendment is not appealing. The OSPI can always make Kinko's copies of the tests and standards used in other states, but Washington has taken a more thoughtful, inclusive approach in the past.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (Education) (In support) Representative Sullivan, prime sponsor.

(In support with amendments) Wendy Rader-Konofalski, Washington Education Association; and Bob Butts, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Testifying: (Appropriations Subcommittee on Education) Robert Butts, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Appropriations Subcommittee on Education) None.