HB 2988

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 2988

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: Changing requirements for student learning plans.

Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Priest, Sullivan and Santos.

Brief Summary of Bill

Repeals requirements that school districts prepare an individual student learning plan for students not successful on the previous year's Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Requires instead that each school specify in its school improvement plan how students who need assistance will be identified, how the school will identify interventions for students, and how these will be communicated to parents.

Hearing Date: 2/1/08

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

Under current law, school districts must prepare an individual student learning plan (SLP) for each fifth grade student and each eighth through 12th grade student who was not successful on any content area of the previous year's Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). An SLP must include the courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be taken by the student to meet state academic standards. The student's parent or guardian must be notified, preferably through a parent conference, of the student's WASL results, actions the school intends to take to improve the student's skills, and the content of the SLP. Progress on the SLP must be reported to the parent at least annually and adjustments made as necessary.

Under rules adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE), each school must have a school improvement plan based on data and developed to promote continuous improvement of student achievement. The plan is used for annual building approval by the school district, which is also required by the SBE. A plan must address the characteristics of an effective school; educational equity for all students; and parent, family, and community involvement to improve student learning.

Summary of Bill:

Requirements for school districts to prepare an SLP for students who were not successful on the previous year's WASL are repealed. Instead, each school must specify in its school improvement plan:

how students who need assistance to meet state academic standards will be identified;
how the school will identify the strategies and interventions appropriate for each student who needs assistance;
the specific strategies and interventions the school will make available and how these will be communicated to parents; and
how parents and guardians of students who need assistance will be notified of their students' individual needs and the interventions available to them, preferably through a parent conference.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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