BILL REQ. #:  H-3977.1 

Prefiled 01/10/08. Read first time 01/14/08.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a kindergarten readiness assessment; adding a new section to chapter 43.215 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds compelling evidence from research and from the efforts of innovative school districts in Washington that if students enter the K-12 public schools ready to learn, their progress and achievement is much greater than for students who lack foundational knowledge and skills. The legislature further finds that the foundational skills for kindergarten success can be assessed using a simple rubric. Many school districts are using such a rubric and are working closely with early learning providers and parents in their communities. However, because there is no common kindergarten readiness assessment, there is no statewide baseline for students' readiness to learn. Such a baseline is critical for developing new early interventions with struggling students and for measuring the impact of such initiatives as full-day kindergarten. A common assessment could also serve as an accountability and quality measure for early learning.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department, in collaboration with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, shall develop and make available a kindergarten readiness assessment for use by all public elementary schools as provided under section 4 of this act.
     (2) In developing the assessment, the department shall examine:
     (a) Research on the critical knowledge and skills for successful entry and progress in kindergarten;
     (b) Examples of assessments used by schools and early learning providers in Washington state; and
     (c) Examples of assessments used by schools and early learning providers in other states.
     (3) The kindergarten readiness assessment must address the following knowledge and skills, at a minimum:
     (a) Letters and sounds;
     (b) Numbers and number concepts; and
     (c) Social skills for the school environment.
     (4) Results from the kindergarten readiness assessment must be reportable in a common format at a school, school district, and statewide level.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The department of early learning shall submit a report with recommendations for implementing the kindergarten readiness assessment to the governor and the education and early learning committees of the legislature by January 10, 2009. The recommendations shall include:
     (a) The proposed kindergarten readiness assessment;
     (b) The proposed assessment results reporting system;
     (c) A proposed plan for professional development of individuals who will administer the assessment to ensure reliable and comparable results; and
     (d) A proposed plan for communicating with early learning providers and parents about the knowledge and skills covered by the kindergarten readiness assessment.
     (2) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall conduct voluntary field tests of the kindergarten readiness assessment in school districts during the 2009-10 school year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, school districts shall offer the kindergarten readiness assessment developed and provided by the department of early learning under section 2 of this act to all students entering the district's kindergarten program.
     (2) The school district shall report results of the assessment to the parents or guardians of students who take the assessment and shall report results to the office of the superintendent of public instruction using a common reporting format specified by the office.