Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1562

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Changing the requirements for graduating without a certificate of academic achievement or a certificate of individual achievement.

Sponsors: Representatives Liias, Priest, Quall, Sullivan, Kenney, Simpson, McCune and Ormsby; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Removes the requirement that high school students must continue to take the mathematics Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or another appropriate assessment, each year in order to qualify for a temporary exception that allows graduation without a Certificate of Academic Achievement.

  • Removes the expectation that mathematics courses these students are required to take be considered "additional" courses.

Hearing Date: 2/4/09

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383)

Background:

Starting with the class of 2008, high school students are required meet the state standard on the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) or an approved alternative assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics to receive a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA). Students in special education who are not appropriately assessed using the WASL can earn a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA). The CAA or CIA were to be required for high school graduation starting with the class of 2008, but the 2007 Legislature enacted a temporary exception for students who do not meet the state standard in mathematics.

Through the graduating class of 2012, students may graduate from high school without a CAA or CIA if they:

  1. have not met the state standard in mathematics on the WASL, an approved alternative assessment, or an alternative for eligible special education students;

  2. have met the state standard in the other required content areas;

  3. have met all other state and local graduation requirements;

  4. continue to take the appropriate mathematics assessment annually; and

  5. successfully earn two additional high school mathematics credits or a career and technical course equivalent after their sophomore year, designed to increase their proficiency on the WASL. This requirement was one additional credit after their junior year for students in the class of 2008.

Summary of Bill:

The conditions for students, through the graduating class of 2012, to be eligible for high school graduation without earning a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement are revised. Students are no longer required to continue taking the appropriate mathematics assessment annually until graduation. Students are still required to take two mathematics credits after their sophomore year (one credit after their junior year for the class of 2008), but these credits are no longer required to be "additional" credits.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.