"Sec. 1   RCW 28A.655.061 and 2009 c 524 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The high school assessment system shall include but need not be limited to the Washington assessment of student learning, opportunities for a student to retake the content areas of the assessment in which the student was not successful, and if approved by the legislature pursuant to subsection (10) of this section, one or more objective alternative assessments for a student to demonstrate achievement of state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments for each content area shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington assessment of student learning for each content area.
     (2) Subject to the conditions in this section, a certificate of academic achievement shall be obtained by most students at about the age of sixteen, and is evidence that the students have successfully met the state standard in the content areas included in the certificate. With the exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045 or 28A.655.0611, acquisition of the certificate is required for graduation from a public high school but is not the only requirement for graduation.
     (3) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, with the exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045, a student who meets the state standards on the reading, writing, and mathematics content areas of the high school Washington assessment of student learning shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. If a student does not successfully meet the state standards in one or more content areas required for the certificate of academic achievement, then the student may retake the assessment in the content area up to four times at no cost to the student. If the student successfully meets the state standards on a retake of the assessment then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. Once objective alternative assessments are authorized pursuant to subsection (10) of this section, a student may use the objective alternative assessments to demonstrate that the student successfully meets the state standards for that content area if the student has taken the Washington assessment of student learning at least once. If the student successfully meets the state standards on the objective alternative assessments then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement.
     (4) Beginning no later than with the graduating class of 2013, a student must meet the state standards in science in addition to the other content areas required under subsection (3) of this section on the Washington assessment of student learning or the objective alternative assessments in order to earn a certificate of academic achievement. The state board of education may adopt a rule that implements the requirements of this subsection (4) beginning with a graduating class before the graduating class of 2013, if the state board of education adopts the rule by September 1st of the freshman school year of the graduating class to which the requirements of this subsection (4) apply. The state board of education's authority under this subsection (4) does not alter the requirement that any change in performance standards for the tenth grade assessment must comply with RCW 28A.305.130.
     (5) The state board of education may not require the acquisition of the certificate of academic achievement for students in home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW, for students enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or for students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045.
     (6) A student may retain and use the highest result from each successfully completed content area of the high school assessment.
     (7) School districts must make available to students the following options:
     (a) To retake the Washington assessment of student learning up to four times in the content areas in which the student did not meet the state standards if the student is enrolled in a public school; or
     (b) To retake the Washington assessment of student learning up to four times in the content areas in which the student did not meet the state standards if the student is enrolled in a high school completion program at a community or technical college. The superintendent of public instruction and the state board for community and technical colleges shall jointly identify means by which students in these programs can be assessed.
     (8) Students who achieve the standard in a content area of the high school assessment but who wish to improve their results shall pay for retaking the assessment, using a uniform cost determined by the superintendent of public instruction.
     (9) Opportunities to retake the assessment at least twice a year shall be available to each school district.
     (10)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop options for implementing objective alternative assessments, which may include an appeals process for students' scores, for students to demonstrate achievement of the state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington assessment of student learning and be objective in its determination of student achievement of the state standards. Before any objective alternative assessments in addition to those authorized in RCW 28A.655.065 or (b) of this subsection are used by a student to demonstrate that the student has met the state standards in a content area required to obtain a certificate, the legislature shall formally approve the use of any objective alternative assessments through the omnibus appropriations act or by statute or concurrent resolution.
     (b)(i) A student's score on the mathematics, reading or English, or writing portion of the SAT or the ACT may be used as an objective alternative assessment under this section for demonstrating that a student has met or exceeded the state standards for the certificate of academic achievement. The state board of education shall identify the scores students must achieve on the relevant portion of the SAT or ACT to meet or exceed the state standard in the relevant content area on the Washington assessment of student learning. The state board of education shall identify the first scores by December 1, 2007. After the first scores are established, the state board may increase but not decrease the scores required for students to meet or exceed the state standards.
     (ii) Until August 31, 2008, a student's score on the mathematics portion of the PSAT may be used as an objective alternative assessment under this section for demonstrating that a student has met or exceeded the state standard for the certificate of academic achievement. The state board of education shall identify the score students must achieve on the mathematics portion of the PSAT to meet or exceed the state standard in that content area on the Washington assessment of student learning.
     (iii) A student who scores at least a three on the grading scale of one to five for selected AP examinations may use the score as an objective alternative assessment under this section for demonstrating that a student has met or exceeded state standards for the certificate of academic achievement. A score of three on the AP examinations in calculus or statistics may be used as an alternative assessment for the mathematics portion of the Washington assessment of student learning. A score of three on the AP examinations in English language and composition may be used as an alternative assessment for the writing portion of the Washington assessment of student learning. A score of three on the AP examinations in English literature and composition, macroeconomics, microeconomics, psychology, United States history, world history, United States government and politics, or comparative government and politics may be used as an alternative assessment for the reading portion of the Washington assessment of student learning.
     (11) By December 15, 2004, the house of representatives and senate education committees shall obtain information and conclusions from recognized, independent, national assessment experts regarding the validity and reliability of the high school Washington assessment of student learning for making individual student high school graduation determinations.
     (12) To help assure continued progress in academic achievement as a foundation for high school graduation and to assure that students are on track for high school graduation, each school district shall prepare plans for and notify students and their parents or legal guardians as provided in this subsection (((12))).
     (((a))) Student learning plans are required for eighth ((through twelfth)) grade students who were not successful on any or all of the content areas of the ((Washington)) state assessment ((for student learning)) during the previous school year or who may not be on track to graduate due to credit deficiencies or absences. The parent or legal guardian shall be notified about the information in the student learning plan, preferably through a parent conference and at least annually. To the extent feasible, schools serving English language learner students and their parents shall translate the plan into the primary language of the family. The plan shall include the following information as applicable:
     (((i))) (a) The student's results on the ((Washington)) state assessment ((of student learning));
     (((ii))) (b) If the student is in the transitional bilingual program, the score on his or her Washington language proficiency test II;
     (((iii))) (c) Any credit deficiencies;
     (((iv))) (d) The student's attendance rates over the previous two years;
     (((v))) (e) The student's progress toward meeting state and local graduation requirements;
     (((vi))) (f) The courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be taken by the student to meet state academic standards and stay on track for graduation;
     (((vii))) (g) Remediation strategies and alternative education options available to students, including informing students of the option to continue to receive instructional services after grade twelve or until the age of twenty-one;
     (((viii))) (h) The alternative assessment options available to students under this section and RCW 28A.655.065;
     (((ix))) (i) School district programs, high school courses, and career and technical education options available for students to meet graduation requirements; and
     (((x))) (j) Available programs offered through skill centers or community and technical colleges, including the college high school diploma options under RCW 28B.50.535.
     (((b) All fifth grade students who were not successful in one or more of the content areas of the fourth grade Washington assessment of student learning shall have a student learning plan.
     (i) The parent or guardian of the student shall be notified, preferably through a parent conference, of the student's results on the Washington assessment of student learning, actions the school intends to take to improve the student's skills in any content area in which the student was unsuccessful, and provide strategies to help them improve their student's skills.
     (ii) Progress made on the student plan shall be reported to the student's parents or guardian at least annually and adjustments to the plan made as necessary.))

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.225.015 and 1999 c 319 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If a parent enrolls a child who is six or seven years of age in a public school, the child is required to attend and that parent has the responsibility to ensure the child attends for the full time that school is in session. An exception shall be made to this requirement for children whose parents formally remove them from enrollment if the child is less than eight years old and a petition has not been filed against the parent under subsection (3) of this section. The requirement to attend school under this subsection does not apply to a child enrolled in a public school part-time for the purpose of receiving ancillary services. A child required to attend school under this subsection may be temporarily excused upon the request of his or her parent for purposes agreed upon by the school district and parent.
     (2) If a six or seven year-old child is required to attend public school under subsection (1) of this section and that child has unexcused absences, the public school in which the child is enrolled ((shall)) may:
     (a) Inform the child's custodial parent, parents, or guardian by a notice in writing, by e-mail, or by telephone whenever the child has failed to attend school after one unexcused absence within any month during the current school year;
     (b) Request a conference or conferences to be conducted by telephone or in person with the custodial parent, parents, or guardian and child at a time reasonably convenient for all persons included for the purpose of analyzing the causes of the child's absences after two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year. If a regularly scheduled parent-teacher conference day is to take place within thirty days of the second unexcused absence, then the school district may schedule this conference on that day; and
     (c) Take steps to eliminate or reduce the child's absences. These steps ((shall)) may include, where appropriate, adjusting the child's school program or school or course assignment, providing more individualized or remedial instruction, offering assistance in enrolling the child in available alternative schools or programs, or assisting the parent or child to obtain supplementary services that may help eliminate or ameliorate the cause or causes for the absence from school.
     (3) If a child required to attend public school under subsection (1) of this section has seven unexcused absences in a month or ten unexcused absences in a school year, the school district ((shall)) may file a petition for civil action as provided in RCW 28A.225.035 against the parent of the child.
     (4) This section does not require a six or seven year old child to enroll in a public or private school or to receive home-based instruction. This section only applies to six or seven year old children whose parents enroll them full time in public school and do not formally remove them from enrollment as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.225.020 and 2009 c 266 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If a child required to attend school under RCW 28A.225.010 fails to attend school without valid justification, the public school in which the child is enrolled shall take the following actions if the child is enrolled in the sixth grade or above, and may take the following actions if the child is enrolled in the fifth grade or below:
     (a) Inform the child's custodial parent, parents, or guardian by a notice in writing, by e-mail, or by telephone whenever the child has failed to attend school after one unexcused absence within any month during the current school year. School officials shall inform the parent of the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences. If the custodial parent, parents, or guardian is not fluent in English, the preferred practice is to provide this information in a language in which the custodial parent, parents, or guardian is fluent; and
     (b) Schedule a conference or conferences to be conducted by telephone or in person with the custodial parent, parents, or guardian and child at a time reasonably convenient for all persons included for the purpose of analyzing the causes of the child's absences after two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year. If a regularly scheduled parent-teacher conference day is to take place within thirty days of the second unexcused absence, then the school district may schedule this conference on that day((; and)).
     (((c))) (2) The school may also take steps to eliminate or reduce the child's absences. These steps ((shall)) may include, where appropriate, adjusting the child's school program or school or course assignment, providing more individualized or remedial instruction, providing appropriate vocational courses or work experience, referring the child to a community truancy board, if available, requiring the child to attend an alternative school or program, or assisting the parent or child to obtain supplementary services that might eliminate or ameliorate the cause or causes for the absence from school. If the child's parent does not attend the scheduled conference, the conference may be conducted with the student and school official. However, the parent shall be notified of the steps to be taken to eliminate or reduce the child's absence.
     (((2))) (3) For purposes of this chapter, an "unexcused absence" means that a child:
     (a) Has failed to attend the majority of hours or periods in an average school day or has failed to comply with a more restrictive school district policy; and
     (b) Has failed to meet the school district's policy for excused absences.
     (((3))) (4) If a child transfers from one school district to another during the school year, the receiving school or school district shall include the unexcused absences accumulated at the previous school or from the previous school district for purposes of this section, RCW 28A.225.030, and 28A.225.015.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.225.025 and 2009 c 266 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) For purposes of this chapter, "community truancy board" means a board composed of members of the local community in which the child attends school. Juvenile courts may establish and operate community truancy boards. If the juvenile court and the school district agree, a school district may establish and operate a community truancy board under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Juvenile courts may create a community truancy board or may use other entities that exist or are created, such as diversion units. However, a diversion unit or other existing entity must agree before it is used as a truancy board. Duties of a community truancy board shall include, but not be limited to, recommending methods for improving school attendance such as assisting the parent or the child to obtain supplementary services that might eliminate or ameliorate the causes for the absences or suggesting to the school district that the child enroll in another school, an alternative education program, an education center, a skill center, a dropout prevention program, or another public or private educational program.
     (2) The legislature finds that utilization of community truancy boards, or other diversion units that fulfill a similar function, is the preferred means of intervention when preliminary methods of notice and parent conferences and taking appropriate steps to eliminate or reduce unexcused absences have not been effective in securing the child's attendance at school. The legislature intends to encourage and support the development and expansion of community truancy boards and other diversion programs which are effective in promoting school attendance and preventing the need for more intrusive intervention by the court. ((Operation of a school truancy board does not excuse a district from the obligation of filing a petition within the requirements of RCW 28A.225.015(3).))

Sec. 5   RCW 28A.225.030 and 1999 c 319 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If a child is required to attend school under RCW 28A.225.010 and ((if)) the ((actions taken by a)) school district takes actions under RCW 28A.225.020 that are not successful in substantially reducing an enrolled student's absences from public school, not later than the seventh unexcused absence by a child within any month during the current school year, or not later than the tenth unexcused absence during the current school year the school district ((shall)) may file a petition and supporting affidavit for a civil action with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010: (a) By the parent; (b) by the child; or (c) by the parent and the child. Except as provided in this subsection, no additional documents need be filed with the petition.
     (2) The district ((shall not later than)) may, after the fifth unexcused absence in a month:
     (a) Enter into an agreement with a student and parent that establishes school attendance requirements;
     (b) Refer a student to a community truancy board, if available, as defined in RCW 28A.225.025. The community truancy board shall enter into an agreement with the student and parent that establishes school attendance requirements and take other appropriate actions to reduce the child's absences; or
     (c) File a petition under subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) The petition may be filed by a school district employee who is not an attorney.
     (4) If the school district ((fails to)) does not file a petition under this section, the parent of a child with five or more unexcused absences in any month during the current school year or upon the tenth unexcused absence during the current school year may file a petition with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010.
     (5) Petitions filed under this section may be served by certified mail, return receipt requested. If such service is unsuccessful, or the return receipt is not signed by the addressee, personal service is required.

Sec. 6   RCW 28A.225.151 and 1996 c 134 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As required under subsection (2) of this section, ((each school)) if a school takes additional actions provided in RCW 28A.225.030, it shall document the actions taken ((under RCW 28A.225.030)) and report this information to the school district superintendent who shall compile the data for all the schools in the district and prepare an annual school district report for each school year and submit the report to the superintendent of public instruction. The reports shall be made upon forms furnished by the superintendent of public instruction and shall be transmitted as determined by the superintendent of public instruction.
     (2) The reports under subsection (1) of this section shall include:
     (a) The number of enrolled students and the number of unexcused absences;
     (b) Documentation of the steps taken by the school district under each subsection of RCW 28A.225.020 at the request of the superintendent of public instruction. Each year, by May 1st, the superintendent of public instruction shall select ten school districts to submit the report at the end of the following school year. The ten districts shall represent different areas of the state and be of varied sizes. In addition, the superintendent of public instruction shall require any district that fails to keep appropriate records to submit a full report to the superintendent of public instruction under this subsection. All school districts shall document steps taken under RCW 28A.225.020 in each student's record, and make those records available upon request consistent with the laws governing student records;
     (c) The number of enrolled students with ten or more unexcused absences in a school year or five or more unexcused absences in a month during a school year;
     (d) A description of any programs or schools developed to serve students who have had five or more unexcused absences in a month or ten in a year including information about the number of students in the program or school and the number of unexcused absences of students during and after participation in the program. The school district shall also describe any placements in an approved private nonsectarian school or program or certified program under a court order under RCW 28A.225.090; and
     (e) The number of petitions filed by a school district with the juvenile court.
     (3) A report required under this section shall not disclose the name or other identification of a child or parent.
     (4) The superintendent of public instruction shall collect these reports from all school districts and prepare an annual report for each school year to be submitted to the legislature no later than December 15th of each year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Sections 2 through 6 of this act take effect July 1, 2010."