Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee

HB 1479

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.

Brief Description: Exempting transfer students from military families from certain prerequisites for earning a certificate of academic achievement.

Sponsors: Representatives Appleton, Lantz, Green, Williams, Linville, Kagi, Ormsby, Santos and Seaquist.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Provides that, if a student transfers to a Washington public school from another state after the ninth grade because of a parent or guardian receiving an active military duty assignment to Washington, the student is not required to pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement.

Hearing Date: 2/1/07

Staff: Andrew Colvin (786-7304).

Background:

Beginning with the class of 2008, a student is required to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) to graduate from high school. To earn a CAA, a student is required to pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) or an approved alternative assessment.

Members of the military must often move to other parts of the country, or other parts of the world, as part of their military duty assignments. For children of members of the military, this may require changing schools. Schools in different states, or abroad, may have different requirements and curriculum than are required in Washington.





Summary of Bill:

High school graduation requirements are changed for certain students from military families. A student will not be required to pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) if that student, after the ninth grade, transfers to a Washington state public school from another state due to the student's parent or guardian receiving an active military duty assignment to Washington state. Such students will still be required to earn a CAA to graduate from high school, and may still earn a CAA by means of passing the WASL or an approved alternative assessment.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.