2261-S AMH HUNT MCLA 425

                

SHB 2261 - H AMD TO H AMD (H- 3462636.1/09)

By Representative Hunter

ADOPTED 3/12/2009

    On page 8, beginning on line 9 of the striking amendment, after "Sec. 103." strike all material through "group" on line 34 and insert the following:

    "RCW 28A.150.210 and 2007 c 400 s 1 are each amended to read as follows: 

    BASIC EDUCATION GOAL.  ((The goal of the basic education act for the schools of the state of Washington set forth in this chapter shall be to)) A basic education is an evolving program of instruction that provides students with the opportunity to become responsible and respectful global citizens, to contribute to their economic well-being and that of their families and communities, to explore and understand different perspectives, and to enjoy productive and satisfying lives.  ((Additionally,)) The state of Washington intends to provide for a public school system that is able to evolve and adapt in order to better focus on strengthening the educational achievement of all students, which includes high expectations for all students and gives all students the opportunity to achieve personal and academic success.  A basic education must also provide all students with the opportunity to graduate from high school with a meaningful high school diploma, ready for success in postsecondary education, gainful employment, and citizenship.  To these ends, the goals of each school district, with the involvement of parents and community members, shall be to provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills essential to:

    (1) Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences;

    (2) Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history, including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts; and health and fitness;

    (3) Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems; and

    (4) Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.

Sec. 104.  RCW 28A.150.220 and 1993 c 371 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM.  (1) ((Satisfaction of the basic education program requirements identified in RCW 28A.150.210 shall be considered to be implemented by the following program:

    (a) Each school district shall make available to students enrolled in kindergarten at least a total instructional offering of four hundred fifty hours.  The program shall include instruction in the essential academic learning requirements under *RCW 28A.630.885 and such other subjects and such activities as the school district shall determine to be appropriate for the education of the school district's students enrolled in such program;

    (b) Each school district shall make available to students enrolled in grades one through twelve, at least a district-wide annual average total instructional hour offering of one thousand hours.  The state board of education may define alternatives to classroom instructional time for students in grades nine through twelve enrolled in alternative learning experiences.  The state board of education shall establish rules to determine annual average instructional hours for districts including fewer than twelve grades.  The program shall include the essential academic learning requirements under *RCW 28A.630.885 and such other subjects and such activities as the school district shall determine to be appropriate for the education of the school district's students enrolled in such group)) In order for students to have the opportunity to develop the basic education knowledge and skills under RCW 28A.150.210, school districts must provide instruction of sufficient quantity and quality and give students the opportunity to complete graduation requirements that are intended to prepare them for postsecondary education, gainful employment, and citizenship.  The program established under this section shall be the minimum instructional program of basic education offered by school districts.

    (2) Each school district shall make available to students the following minimum instructional offering each school year:
    (a) For students enrolled in grades one through twelve, at least a district-wide annual average of one thousand hours, which shall be increased to at least one thousand eighty instructional hours for students enrolled in each of grades seven through twelve and at least one thousand instructional hours for students in each of grades one through six according to an implementation schedule adopted by the legislature; and

    (b) For students enrolled in kindergarten, at least four hundred fifty instructional hours, which shall be increased to at least one thousand instructional hours according to the implementation schedule under RCW 28A.150.315.
    (3) The instructional program of basic education provided by each school district shall include:
    (a) Instruction in the essential academic learning requirements under RCW 28A.655.070;
    (b) Instruction that provides students the opportunity to complete twenty-four credits for high school graduation, with course distribution requirements established by the state board of education under RCW 28A.230.090 and that may be subject to a phased-in implementation of the twenty-four credits as adopted by the board
"

 

    Renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.  Correct the title.

 

    On page 9, at the beginning of line 13 of the striking amendment, strike "(2) Nothing contained in subsection (1) of" and insert "(((2)))(4) Nothing contained in ((subsection (1) of))"

 

    On page 9, at the beginning of line 16 of the striking amendment, strike "(3)" and insert "(((3)))(4)"

 

    On page 9, at the beginning of line 33 of the striking amendment, strike "(4)" and insert "(((4))) (5)"

 

    On page 48, line 26 of the striking amendment, after "101 through" strike "109" and insert "110"

 

 

           EFFECT:   

          ·   Adds to the Basic Education Goal that a basic education is an evolving program and must provide all students with the opportunity to graduate from high school with a meaningful high school diploma.

 

          ·   Adds to the Instructional Program of Basic Education the requirement for school districts to provide instruction of sufficient quantity and quality to give students the opportunity to complete graduation requirements intended to prepare them for postsecondary education, gainful employment, and citizenship.

 

          ·   Requires school districts to provide students the opportunity to complete 24 credits for graduation, with course requirements established by the State Board of Education and subject to a phased-in implementation of the credits as adopted by the Board.

 

          ·   According to an implementation schedule adopted by the Legislature, increases minimum instructional hours from 1,000 hours averaged across all grades to 1,000 hours for each of grades 1 through 6 and 1,080 hours for each of grades 7 through 12.

 

           ·   Phases in an increase of all-day kindergarten from 450 hours to 1,000 hours of instruction according to a different statutory implementation schedule.

 

 

 

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