Brief Description: Regarding educational data and data systems.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Oemig, Tom, Rockefeller, Zarelli and Keiser).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Education
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: In 2002, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) began developing the Core Student Record System (CSRS), which assigns each student a unique student identification number and collects demographic and other information to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In the 2006 supplemental budget, OSPI received a $2.9 million appropriation along with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to begin developing a statewide longitudinal data system.

CSRS is designed to reduce the number of data collections required annually and to respond to federal and state reporting requirements. OSPI annually collects various data from school districts through CSRS. The long-term goal of this system is for reliable information to be regularly submitted and available for analysis and use by school districts and others. The data will show student course-taking patterns, student transcripts, teacher qualifications and assignments, and other information. OSPI has completed a pilot phase of the new system with selected school districts and one Educational Service District (ESD).

Summary: To the extent funds are appropriated, OSPI is directed to conduct a feasibility study on expanding a longitudinal student-teacher data system. The stated intent of the data system is to establish better linking of data on students, teachers, and student achievement aimed at providing better information regarding effective programs and interventions. The feasibility study will involve a piloting component in two or more school districts to identify additional data elements under the statewide student data system. Among the data elements to be field tested will be course codes for a limited set of core high school mathematics courses, based on the classification of secondary school courses by the National Center for Education Statistics. In addition, the feasibility study must develop an implementation plan for coding secondary courses in addition to mathematics. OSPI must consult a variety of research and education organizations in conducting the study. OSPI must provide a final report to the Legislature by November 1, 2008.

OSPI is authorized to share data for educational purposes and studies under certain circumstances. The circumstances include: educational studies authorized or mandated by the Legislature; studies initiated by other state educational authorities and authorized by OSPI; and studies initiated by private study groups authorized by OSPI. The sharing must be consistent with the Federal Family Educational Rights Privacy Act and other relevant state laws.

An Education Data Center (Center) is created within the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and requires OFM to work jointly with the Legislative Education and Accountability Program (LEAP) Committee in conducting collaborative analyses of early learning, K-12, and higher education programs and issues. State education agencies must work with the Center in developing data-sharing and research agreements, consistent with applicable security confidentiality requirements. The Center is also required to develop a reporting format for districts to submit data on student demographics disaggregated by distinct ethnic categories within racial subgroups.

No later than the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, school districts must submit specified student-teacher data to OSPI. OSPI must develop technical standards for school data systems that focus on validation and verification and develop a reporting format for school districts. OSPI may accept applications for educator certification that are submitted using an electronic signature from the applicant.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   1
House      98   0   (House amended)
Senate      30   18   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007