BILL REQ. #:  H-4984.1 

Read first time 01/29/08.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to mathematics graduation requirements; amending RCW 28A.305.215 and 28A.230.090; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that mathematics education in Washington is in a state of flux. There is ongoing discussion about revisions to the mathematics academic learning standards, which drive both instruction and assessment in mathematics. There is also ongoing debate about the level and content of mathematics that all high school students need to earn a diploma, including both students who seek a four-year baccalaureate degree and those who seek other equally valuable educational and career pathways. Furthermore, a recent survey by the professional educator standards board found a need for at least four hundred fifty additional mathematics teachers if a third credit of mathematics is required for graduation. Efforts to recruit and train new teachers are underway, but will take time to produce a sufficient corps of teachers to meet demand. Therefore, the legislature finds that directing the state board of education immediately to add a third credit of mathematics to graduation requirements is premature. More debate and discussion is needed of the short-term and long-term implications on students and schools. Furthermore, the legislature finds that the implications are significant enough to warrant that the final decision be formally approved by the legislature rather than being delegated to the state board of education.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.305.215 and 2007 c 396 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The activities in this section revise and strengthen the state learning standards that implement the goals of RCW 28A.150.210, known as the essential academic learning requirements, and improve alignment of school district curriculum to the standards.
     (2) The state board of education shall be assisted in its work under subsections (3) and (5) of this section by: (a) An expert national consultant in each of mathematics and science retained by the state board; and (b) the mathematics and science advisory panels created under RCW 28A.305.219, as appropriate, which shall provide review and formal comment on proposed recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education on new revised standards and curricula.
     (3) By September 30, 2007, the state board of education shall recommend to the superintendent of public instruction revised essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations in mathematics. The recommendations shall be based on:
     (a) Considerations of clarity, rigor, content, depth, coherence from grade to grade, specificity, accessibility, and measurability;
     (b) Study of:
     (i) Standards used in countries whose students demonstrate high performance on the trends in international mathematics and science study and the programme for international student assessment;
     (ii) College readiness standards;
     (iii) The national council of teachers of mathematics focal points and the national assessment of educational progress content frameworks; and
     (iv) Standards used by three to five other states, including California, and the nation of Singapore; and
     (c) Consideration of information presented during public comment periods.
     (4) By January 31, 2008, the superintendent of public instruction shall revise the essential academic learning requirements and the grade level expectations for mathematics and present the revised standards to the state board of education and the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives as required by RCW 28A.655.070(4). The superintendent shall adopt the revised essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations unless otherwise directed by the legislature during the 2008 legislative session.
     (5) By June 30, 2008, the state board of education shall recommend to the superintendent of public instruction revised essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations in science. The recommendations shall be based on:
     (a) Considerations of clarity, rigor, content, depth, coherence from grade to grade, specificity, accessibility, and measurability;
     (b) Study of standards used by three to five other states and in countries whose students demonstrate high performance on the trends in international mathematics and science study and the programme for international student assessment; and
     (c) Consideration of information presented during public comment periods.
     (6) By December 1, 2008, the superintendent of public instruction shall revise the essential academic learning requirements and the grade level expectations for science and present the revised standards to the state board of education and the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives as required by RCW 28A.655.070(4). The superintendent shall adopt the revised essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations unless otherwise directed by the legislature during the 2009 legislative session.
     (7)(a) By May 15, 2008, the superintendent of public instruction shall present to the state board of education recommendations for no more than three basic mathematics curricula each for elementary, middle, and high school grade spans.
     (b) By June 30, 2008, the state board of education shall provide official comment and recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction regarding the recommended mathematics curricula. The superintendent of public instruction shall make any changes based on the comment and recommendations from the state board of education and adopt the recommended curricula.
     (c) By May 15, 2009, the superintendent of public instruction shall present to the state board of education recommendations for no more than three basic science curricula each for elementary, middle, and high school grade spans.
     (d) By June 30, 2009, the state board of education shall provide official comment and recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction regarding the recommended science curricula. The superintendent of public instruction shall make any changes based on the comment and recommendations from the state board of education and adopt the recommended curricula.
     (e) In selecting the recommended curricula under this subsection (7), the superintendent of public instruction shall provide information to the mathematics and science advisory panels created under RCW 28A.305.219, as appropriate, and seek the advice of the appropriate panel regarding the curricula that shall be included in the recommendations.
     (f) The recommended curricula under this subsection (7) shall align with the revised essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations. In addition to the recommended basic curricula, appropriate diagnostic and supplemental materials shall be identified as necessary to support each curricula.
     (g) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose and availability of the curricula, at least one of the curricula in each grade span and in each of mathematics and science shall be available to schools and parents online at no cost to the school or parent.
     (8) By ((December 1, 2007)) January 1, 2009, the state board of education shall ((revise)) recommend whether the high school graduation requirements under RCW 28A.230.090 ((to)) should include a minimum of three credits of mathematics, one of which may be a career and technical course equivalent in mathematics, and ((prescribe)) recommend the mathematics content in ((the three)) required credits. The recommendations of the state board shall be forwarded to the governor and the education committees of the legislature. After the effective date of this section, any additional mathematics credits required for high school graduation and any changes in the required content in those credits shall take effect only if formally approved by the legislature through the omnibus appropriations act or statute.
     (9) Nothing in this section requires a school district to use one of the recommended curricula under subsection (7) of this section. However, the statewide accountability plan adopted by the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.130 shall recommend conditions under which school districts should be required to use one of the recommended curricula. The plan shall also describe the conditions for exception to the curriculum requirement, such as the use of integrated academic and career and technical education curriculum. Required use of the recommended curricula as an intervention strategy must be authorized by the legislature as required by RCW 28A.305.130(4)(e) before implementation.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.230.090 and 2006 c 114 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students, except those equivalencies established by local high schools or school districts under RCW 28A.230.097, and except as provided in RCW 28A.305.215(8).
     (a) Any course in Washington state history and government used to fulfill high school graduation requirements shall consider including information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first inhabitants of the state.
     (b) The certificate of academic achievement requirements under RCW 28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement requirements under RCW 28A.155.045 are required for graduation from a public high school but are not the only requirements for graduation.
     (c) Any decision on whether a student has met the state board's high school graduation requirements for a high school and beyond plan shall remain at the local level.
     (2) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board of education to establish and enforce minimum high school graduation requirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate the graduation requirements and shall report such findings to the legislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board. The state board shall reevaluate the graduation requirements for students enrolled in vocationally intensive and rigorous career and technical education programs, particularly those programs that lead to a certificate or credential that is state or nationally recognized. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that students enrolled in these programs have sufficient opportunity to earn a certificate of academic achievement, complete the program and earn the program's certificate or credential, and complete other state and local graduation requirements. The board shall ((reports [report])) report its findings and recommendations for additional flexibility in graduation requirements, if necessary, to the legislature by December 1, 2007.
     (3) Pursuant to any requirement for instruction in languages other than English established by the state board of education or a local school district, or both, for purposes of high school graduation, students who receive instruction in American sign language or one or more American Indian languages shall be considered to have satisfied the state or local school district graduation requirement for instruction in one or more languages other than English.
     (4) If requested by the student and his or her family, a student who has completed high school courses before attending high school shall be given high school credit which shall be applied to fulfilling high school graduation requirements if:
     (a) The course was taken with high school students, if the academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes, and the student has successfully passed by completing the same course requirements and examinations as the high school students enrolled in the class; or
     (b) The academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes and the course would qualify for high school credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a course offered at a high school in the district as determined by the school district board of directors.
     (5) Students who have taken and successfully completed high school courses under the circumstances in subsection (4) of this section shall not be required to take an additional competency examination or perform any other additional assignment to receive credit.
     (6) At the college or university level, five quarter or three semester hours equals one high school credit.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.