BILL REQ. #:  S-2438.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to mathematics education; adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW; 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 the quality of Washington state's K-12 essential academic learning standards in mathematics matters enormously. The legislature further finds that Washington's statewide mathematic standards are important, not only because they provide goalposts for teaching and learning across all of Washington's public schools but also they determine the content and emphasis of tests used to measure student achievement, influence the selection of textbooks and other curriculum materials, and form the core of teacher education programs.
     The current Washington essential academic learning standards in mathematics are the result of a collaboration of many Washington educators, parents, business leaders, and citizens from communities in every corner of the state. However, the standards were developed more than a decade ago. The recent results of two international studies, the program for student international assessment (PISA) and the trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS) make it evident that a vast number of United States' students, including Washington state students, are unable to perform even simple arithmetic calculations. This has disastrous implications for any effort to train American students in the higher-level mathematics skills needed to succeed in today's jobs. Forty-nine percent of 2003 Washington high school graduates who enrolled in two-year colleges needed a remedial mathematics class.
     The legislature further finds that current essential academic learning requirements in mathematics should be reviewed by experts with a thorough understanding of mathematics, including university professors from mathematics and science departments and individuals from the employer community.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By July 1, 2007, the state board of education shall establish an independent mathematics review committee. Mathematics competency must be a prerequisite for inclusion on the committee. Committee members chosen shall not have conflicts of interest with regard to association with the following:
     (a) Any publisher, distributor, or provider of curriculum, assessment, test materials, and services, purchased by or contracted through the office of the superintendent of public instruction, educational service districts, or school districts; or
     (b) Any federal, state, or privately funded K-12 professional development initiatives.
     (2) The committee shall be comprised of:
     (a) Four tenured professors in mathematics or science, with endorsement from the college or university president;
     (b) Four individuals from business and industry in mathematics-related fields who each have a minimum of a bachelor of science or arts degree in mathematics, science, engineering, or equivalent as proven through test of competency;
     (c) Six mathematics classroom teachers, with proven experience, two each from elementary, middle, and high school, and who each have a minimum of a bachelor of science or arts degree in mathematics, science, engineering, or equivalent as proven through test of competency;
     (d) Two parents; and
     (e) One other citizen to serve as chair who is appointed by the governor.
     (3) Each member of the committee shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. School districts shall be reimbursed for the cost of substitutes for the mathematics educators on the committee as required under RCW 28A.300.035. Members of the committee who are employed by a public institution of higher education shall be provided sufficient time away from their regular duties, without loss of benefits or privileges, to fulfill the responsibilities of being a committee member.
     (4) By December 1, 2007, the committee shall review the current essential academic learning requirements in mathematics and make recommendations regarding changes of these mathematics standards to the governor, the state board of education, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The review shall include, but is not limited to the following:
     (a) Reviewing the standards for clarity, rigor, content, reason, and any negative qualities;
     (b) Articulating grade level expectations over the grades as a sequence of expectations and performances that build with increasing depth after foundational knowledge and skills are acquired, and reflect, where appropriate, the sequential nature of the discipline;
     (c) Using the international benchmarking system of the trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS); and
     (d) Reviewing other states and nations that have proven and high-quality mathematics standards, including California and Singapore.
     (5) The superintendent of public instruction shall present the recommended changes made by the committee under subsection (4) of this section to the education committees of the house of representatives and senate as required by RCW 28A.655.070(4) during the 2008 legislative session and shall adopt new essential academic learning requirements and standards for mathematics based on the recommendations of the committee's recommended changes unless the legislature chooses to act during the 2008 legislative session.
     (6) By July 1, 2008, the committee shall review mathematics curriculum and materials, including textbooks, and create a limited menu of curricula to guide districts in textbook adoptions to ensure textbook and curricula alignment with the essential academic learning requirements in mathematics.
     (7) Any school district that chooses to adopt one of the mathematics curricula from the curriculum menu identified under subsection (6) of this section is encouraged to incorporate the adoption into their normal curricula replacement cycle.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   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.