SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5738

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: Requiring the office of the superintendent of public instruction to review annual school district compliance reports.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators King, McAuliffe, Holmquist, Swecker, Oemig, Haugen, Kauffman, Honeyford and Tom).

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5738 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Kauffman, Vice Chair, Early Learning; Oemig, Vice Chair, K-12; King, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Hobbs, Holmquist, Jarrett, McDermott, Roach and Tom.

Background: Under current law, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is authorized to establish a longitudinal student data system for and on behalf of Washington school districts. This is the Comprehensive Education Data and Research System (CEDARS).

In 2007 the Legislature directed OSPI to conduct a feasibility study on expanding CEDARS. The report was due to the Legislature on November 1, 2008. OSPI developed the recommendations in consultation with a work group comprised of representatives from a variety of organizations. One of the recommendations is to "build new reports and queries based on stakeholder needs."

Summary of Substitute Bill: Within existing resources, OSPI must review all annual compliance reports required of school districts. OSPI must make recommendations about which reports should be (1) discontinued; (2) integrated into CEDARS; or (3) maintained in their current form. OSPI must also recommend which federal reporting requirements may be used to meet state reporting requirements in order to avoid duplication of reports.

To assist with this review, OSPI may reconvene the work group that helped conduct the CEDARS feasibility study. By December 1, 2009, OSPI must provide a final report on the status of the annual compliance reports to the Legislature.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: School districts have many requirements to report on. If there are some reports that are no longer needed, this would reduce the burden on school districts and increase efficiency.