Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 2915
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: Regarding mathematics and science high school graduation requirements.
Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Santos, Van De Wege, Kenney and Wallace; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/26/10
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
Graduation Requirements.
Since the class of 2008, students must meet the state standard on the high school assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA). Students in special education whose knowledge and skills are not appropriately tested using this assessment can earn a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA).
In addition to meeting other state and local graduation requirements, students must earn a CAA or CIA to receive a high school diploma, with one exception. Through the class of 2012, a student can graduate without a CAA or CIA if he or she:
meets the state standard on the reading and writing assessment;
meets all other graduation requirements; and
does not meet the standard on the mathematics assessment but earns two mathematics credits after 10th grade.
Since the class of 2013, students must meet the standard on all four high school assessments (reading, writing, mathematics, and science) to earn a CAA, which will be required for graduation. Students in the class of 2013 are currently freshmen in high school.
Mathematics and Science Assessments.
In 2008, the Legislature directed the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to replace the comprehensive high school mathematics assessment with two end-of-course assessments (EOCs). One will be for Algebra/Integrated Math I and the second will be for Geometry/Integrated Math II. There will be subtests for topics unique to each of these four courses which will not be part of the graduation requirement.
The mathematics EOCs must be implemented statewide in the 2010-11 school year. Because most students in class of 2013 (and some in the class of 2014) will have already taken their first year of math before the EOCs are implemented, these classes can use results either from the comprehensive assessment or the EOCs for graduation purposes. Beginning with the class of 2015, only results from the EOCs will be used.
The high school science assessment is a comprehensive assessment.
State Standard.
The State Board of Education (SBE) has the responsibility to identify the scores on state assessments that signify a student "meets the state standard", including for purposes of graduation. Scores are divided into four levels:
Level 1 means Below Basic;
Level 2 means Basic;
Level 3 means Proficient; and
Level 4 means Advanced.
Achievement of Proficient or above is considered "meets standard". On a scale score, a score of 400 is needed for a Proficient. A score of 375 is needed for Basic.
Summary of Bill:
Graduation Requirements.
The law that allows students to graduate without earning a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) or Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) if they do not meet the state standard on the high school mathematics assessment but take two credits of mathematics after 10th grade is extended through the class of 2014, rather than the class of 2012.
Beginning with the class of 2015 and thereafter, students will be able to graduate without earning a CAA or CIA if they:
meet the state standard on the other required assessments;
meet all other graduation requirements;
achieve at least a Basic score on the high school mathematics end-of-course assessments (EOCs); and
earn four mathematics credits.
The requirement that students meet the state standard on the science assessment for graduation purposes begins with the class of 2017 rather than the class of 2013. At that time, students will be expected to achieve at least a Basic score on two of three science EOCs.
The State Board of Education must identify the Basic level of student performance for the high school mathematics and science assessments.
Science Assessment.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is directed to develop EOCs for high school science that cover the content of biology, physical sciences, and earth sciences as well as cross-cutting principles of science such as systems, inquiry, and application. Two of the science EOCs must be implemented statewide in the 2011-12 school year, and the third must be implemented in the 2012-13 school year.
A score of three on the AP examinations in biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental sciences is added as an alternative assessment to meeting the state standard on the state science assessment.
By December 1, 2013, the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, must submit a report to the Governor and the Education Committees of the Legislature on the implementation of the science standards and the science EOCs. Included in the report are the actions taken to disseminate the standards, the extent teachers and students had access to aligned instructional material, and the results of the assessments. The report must also include the SPI's judgment of whether the science EOCs will be sufficiently valid and reliable and the whether students in the class of 2017 will have a reasonable opportunity to learn the material in the EOCs. The SPI will make a recommendation whether students in the class of 2017 should be required to meet state standards in science for graduation or the requirement should be postponed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2010.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.