READ FIRST TIME 02/19/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to flexibility in the education system; amending RCW 28A.165.025, 28A.165.045, 28A.210.010, 28A.210.040, 28A.225.005, 28A.225.290, 28A.225.300, 28A.230.095, 28A.300.040, 28A.300.525, 28A.320.165, 28A.320.180, 28A.600.160, 28A.655.075, 17.21.415, 28A.650.015, 28A.210.020, and 28A.655.065; reenacting and amending RCW 28A.230.125; repealing RCW 28A.230.092, 28A.230.185, 28A.300.412, 28A.600.415, 28A.625.010, 28A.625.020, 28A.625.030, 28A.625.042, 28A.625.050, 28A.625.350, 28A.625.360, 28A.625.370, 28A.625.380, 28A.625.390, 28A.625.900, 28A.630.045, and 28A.630.881; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.165.025 and 2004 c 20 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((By July 1st of each year,)) (1) A participating school district shall submit the district's plan for using learning assistance funds to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for approval, to the extent required under subsection (2) of this section. ((For the 2004-05 school year, school districts must identify the program activities to be implemented from RCW 28A.165.035 and are encouraged to implement the elements in subsections (1) through (8) of this section. Beginning in the 2005-06 school year,)) The program plan must identify the program activities to be implemented from RCW 28A.165.035 and implement all of the elements in ((subsections (1))) (a) through (((8))) (h) of this ((section)) subsection. The school district plan shall include the following:
     (((1))) (a) District and school-level data on reading, writing, and mathematics achievement as reported pursuant to chapter 28A.655 RCW and relevant federal law;
     (((2))) (b) Processes used for identifying the underachieving students to be served by the program, including the identification of school or program sites providing program activities;
     (((3))) (c) How accelerated learning plans are developed and implemented for participating students. Accelerated learning plans may be developed as part of existing student achievement plan process such as student plans for achieving state high school graduation standards, individual student academic plans, or the achievement plans for groups of students. Accelerated learning plans shall include:
     (((a))) (i) Achievement goals for the students;
     (((b))) (ii) Roles of the student, parents, or guardians and teachers in the plan;
     (((c))) (iii) Communication procedures regarding student accomplishment; and
     (((d))) (iv) Plan reviews and adjustments processes;
     (((4))) (d) How state level and classroom assessments are used to inform instruction;
     (((5))) (e) How focused and intentional instructional strategies have been identified and implemented;
     (((6))) (f) How highly qualified instructional staff are developed and supported in the program and in participating schools;
     (((7))) (g) How other federal, state, district, and school resources are coordinated with school improvement plans and the district's strategic plan to support underachieving students; and
     (((8))) (h) How a program evaluation will be conducted to determine direction for the following school year.
     (2) If a school district has received approval of its plan once, it is not required to submit a plan for approval under RCW 28A.165.045 or this section unless the district has made a significant change to the plan. If a district has made a significant change to only a portion of the plan the district need only submit a description of the changes made and not the entire plan. Plans or descriptions of changes to the plan must be submitted by July 1st as required under this section. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish guidelines for what a "significant change" is.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.165.045 and 2004 c 20 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     A participating school district shall ((annually)) submit a program plan to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for approval to the extent required by RCW 28A.165.025. The program plan must address all of the elements in RCW 28A.165.025 and identify the program activities to be implemented from RCW 28A.165.035.
     School districts achieving state reading and mathematics goals as prescribed in chapter 28A.655 RCW shall have their program approved once the program plan and activities submittal is completed.
     School districts not achieving state reading and mathematics goals as prescribed in chapter 28A.655 RCW and that are not in a state or federal program of school improvement shall be subject to program approval once the plan components are reviewed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of receiving technical assistance in the final development of the plan.
     School districts with one or more schools in a state or federal program of school improvement shall have their plans and activities reviewed and approved in conjunction with the state or federal program school improvement program requirements.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.210.010 and 1971 c 32 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state board of health, after consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, shall adopt reasonable rules ((and regulations)) regarding the presence of persons on or about any school premises who have, or who have been exposed to, contagious diseases deemed by the state board of health as dangerous to the public health. Such rules ((and regulations)) shall specify reasonable and precautionary procedures as to such presence and/or readmission of such persons and may include the requirement for a certificate from a licensed physician that there is no danger of contagion. The superintendent of public instruction shall ((print and distribute the)) provide to appropriate school officials and personnel, access and notice of these rules ((and regulations)) of the state board of health ((above provided to appropriate school officials and personnel)). Providing online access to these rules satisfies the requirements of this section. The superintendent of public instruction is required to provide this notice only when there are significant changes to the rules.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.210.040 and 1990 c 33 s 189 are each amended to read as follows:
     The superintendent of public instruction shall ((print and distribute)) provide access to appropriate school officials the rules ((and regulations)) adopted by the state board of health pursuant to RCW 28A.210.020 and the recommended records and forms to be used in making and reporting such screenings. Providing online access to the materials satisfies the requirements of this section.

Sec. 5   RCW 28A.225.005 and 1992 c 205 s 201 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each school within a school district shall inform the students and the parents of the students enrolled in the school about the compulsory education requirements under this chapter. The school shall ((distribute)) provide access to the information at least annually. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this section unless a parent or guardian specifically requests information to be provided in written form.

Sec. 6   RCW 28A.225.290 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 9 s 207 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall prepare and annually ((distribute an)) provide access to information ((booklet)) outlining parents' and guardians' enrollment options for their children. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this section unless a parent or guardian specifically requests information to be provided in written form.
     (2) ((Before the 1991-92 school year, the booklet shall be distributed to all school districts by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. School districts shall have a copy of the information booklet available for public inspection at each school in the district, at the district office, and in public libraries)) School districts shall provide access to the information in this section to the public. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this subsection unless a parent or guardian specifically requests the information be provided in written form.
     (3) The booklet shall include:
     (a) Information about enrollment options and program opportunities, including but not limited to programs in RCW 28A.225.220, 28A.185.040, 28A.225.200 through 28A.225.215, 28A.225.230 through 28A.225.250, 28A.175.090, 28A.340.010 through 28A.340.070 (small high school cooperative projects), and 28A.335.160.
     (b) Information about the running start - community college or vocational-technical institute choice program under RCW 28A.600.300 through ((28A.600.395)) 28A.600.390; and
     (c) Information about the seventh and eighth grade choice program under RCW 28A.230.090.

Sec. 7   RCW 28A.225.300 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 9 s 208 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each school district board of directors annually shall inform parents of the district's intradistrict and interdistrict enrollment options and parental involvement opportunities. Information on intradistrict enrollment options and interdistrict acceptance policies shall be provided to nonresidents on request. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this section unless a parent or guardian specifically requests information to be provided in written form.

Sec. 8   RCW 28A.230.095 and 2006 c 113 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) By the end of the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall have in place in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools assessments or other strategies chosen by the district to assure that students have an opportunity to learn the essential academic learning requirements in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness. Social studies includes history, geography, civics, economics, and social studies skills. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit an implementation verification report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The office of the superintendent of public instruction may not require school districts to use a classroom-based assessment in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness to meet the requirements of this section and shall clearly communicate to districts their option to use other strategies chosen by the district.
     (2) Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall require students in ((the fourth or fifth grades [grade],)) the seventh or eighth ((grades [grade])) grade, and the eleventh or twelfth ((grades [grade])) grade to each complete at least one classroom-based assessment in civics. Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, school districts shall require students in the fourth or fifth grade to complete at least one classroom-based assessment in civics. The civics assessment may be selected from a list of classroom-based assessments approved by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit implementation verification reports to the office of the superintendent of public instruction documenting the use of the classroom-based assessments in civics.
     (3) Verification reports shall require school districts to report only the information necessary to comply with this section.

Sec. 9   RCW 28A.230.125 and 2006 c 263 s 401 and 2006 c 115 s 6 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the higher education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the workforce training and education coordinating board, shall develop for use by all public school districts a standardized high school transcript. The superintendent shall establish clear definitions for the terms "credits" and "hours" so that school programs operating on the quarter, semester, or trimester system can be compared.
     (2) The standardized high school transcript shall include a notation of whether the student has earned a certificate of individual achievement or a certificate of academic achievement.
     (((3) Transcripts are important documents to students who will apply for admission to postsecondary institutions of higher education. Transcripts are also important to students who will seek employment upon or prior to graduation from high school. It is recognized that student transcripts may be the only record available to employers in their decision-making processes regarding prospective employees. The superintendent of public instruction shall require school districts to inform annually all high school students that prospective employers may request to see transcripts and that the prospective employee's decision to release transcripts can be an important part of the process of applying for employment.))

Sec. 10   RCW 28A.300.040 and 2006 c 263 s 104 are each amended to read as follows:
     In addition to any other powers and duties as provided by law, the powers and duties of the superintendent of public instruction shall be:
     (1) To have supervision over all matters pertaining to the public schools of the state;
     (2) To report to the governor and the legislature such information and data as may be required for the management and improvement of the schools;
     (3) To prepare and have printed such forms, registers, courses of study, rules for the government of the common schools, and such other material and books as may be necessary for the discharge of the duties of teachers and officials charged with the administration of the laws relating to the common schools, and to distribute the same to educational service district superintendents;
     (4) To travel, without neglecting his or her other official duties as superintendent of public instruction, for the purpose of attending educational meetings or conventions, of visiting schools, and of consulting educational service district superintendents or other school officials;
     (5) To prepare and from time to time to revise a manual of the Washington state common school code, copies of which shall be ((provided in such numbers as determined by the superintendent of public instruction at no cost to those public agencies within the common school system)) made available online and which shall be sold at approximate actual cost of publication and distribution per volume to ((all other)) public and nonpublic agencies or individuals, said manual to contain Titles 28A and 28C RCW, rules related to the common schools, and such other matter as the state superintendent or the state board of education shall determine. Proceeds of the sale of such code shall be transmitted to the public printer who shall credit the state superintendent's account within the state printing plant revolving fund by a like amount;
     (6) To file all papers, reports and public documents transmitted to the superintendent by the school officials of the several counties or districts of the state, each year separately. Copies of all papers filed in the superintendent's office, and the superintendent's official acts, may, or upon request, shall be certified by the superintendent and attested by the superintendent's official seal, and when so certified shall be evidence of the papers or acts so certified to;
     (7) To require annually, on or before the 15th day of August, of the president, manager, or principal of every educational institution in this state, a report as required by the superintendent of public instruction; and it is the duty of every president, manager, or principal, to complete and return such forms within such time as the superintendent of public instruction shall direct;
     (8) To keep in the superintendent's office a record of all teachers receiving certificates to teach in the common schools of this state;
     (9) To issue certificates as provided by law;
     (10) To keep in the superintendent's office at the capital of the state, all books and papers pertaining to the business of the superintendent's office, and to keep and preserve in the superintendent's office a complete record of statistics, as well as a record of the meetings of the state board of education;
     (11) With the assistance of the office of the attorney general, to decide all points of law which may be submitted to the superintendent in writing by any educational service district superintendent, or that may be submitted to the superintendent by any other person, upon appeal from the decision of any educational service district superintendent; and the superintendent shall publish his or her rulings and decisions from time to time for the information of school officials and teachers; and the superintendent's decision shall be final unless set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction;
     (12) To administer oaths and affirmations in the discharge of the superintendent's official duties;
     (13) To deliver to his or her successor, at the expiration of the superintendent's term of office, all records, books, maps, documents and papers of whatever kind belonging to the superintendent's office or which may have been received by the superintendent's for the use of the superintendent's office;
     (14) To administer family services and programs to promote the state's policy as provided in RCW 74.14A.025;
     (15) To promote the adoption of school-based curricula and policies that provide quality, daily physical education for all students, and to encourage policies that provide all students with opportunities for physical activity outside of formal physical education classes;
     (16) To perform such other duties as may be required by law.

Sec. 11   RCW 28A.300.525 and 2008 c 297 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall provide an annual aggregate report to the legislature on the educational experiences and progress of students in children's administration out-of-home care. This data should be disaggregated in the smallest units allowable by law that do not identify an individual student, in order to learn which school districts are experiencing the greatest success and challenges in achieving quality educational outcomes with students in children's administration out-of-home care.
     (2) This section is suspended until July 1, 2011.

Sec. 12   RCW 28A.320.165 and 2001 c 333 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     Schools as defined in RCW 17.21.415 shall provide notice of pesticide use to parents or guardians of students and employees pursuant to chapter 17.21 RCW, upon the request of the parent or guardian.

Sec. 13   RCW 28A.320.180 and 2007 c 396 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to funding appropriated for this purpose and beginning in the fall of 2009, school districts shall provide all high school students enrolled in the district the option of taking the mathematics college readiness test developed under RCW 28B.10.679 once at no cost to the students. Districts shall encourage, but not require, students to take the test in their junior or senior year of high school.
     (2) Subject to funding appropriated for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall reimburse each district for the costs incurred by the district in providing students the opportunity to take the mathematics placement test.
     (3) This section is suspended until July 1, 2011.

Sec. 14   RCW 28A.600.160 and 1998 c 225 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any middle school, junior high school, or high school using educational pathways shall ensure that all participating students will continue to have access to the courses and instruction necessary to meet admission requirements at baccalaureate institutions. Students shall be allowed to enter the educational pathway of their choice. Before accepting a student into an educational pathway, the school shall inform the student's parent of the pathway chosen, the opportunities available to the student through the pathway, and the career objectives the student will have exposure to while pursuing the pathway. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this section unless a parent or guardian specifically request information to be provided in written form. Parents and students dissatisfied with the opportunities available through the selected educational pathway shall be provided with the opportunity to transfer the student to any other pathway provided in the school. Schools may not develop educational pathways that retain students in high school beyond the date they are eligible to graduate, and may not require students who transfer between pathways to complete pathway requirements beyond the date the student is eligible to graduate. Educational pathways may include, but are not limited to, programs such as work-based learning, ((school-to-work transition,)) tech prep, ((vocational-technical)) career and technical education, running start, and preparation for technical college, community college, or university education.

Sec. 15   RCW 28A.655.075 and 2007 c 396 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Within funds specifically appropriated therefor, by December 1, 2008, the superintendent of public instruction shall develop essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations for educational technology literacy and technology fluency that identify the knowledge and skills that all public school students need to know and be able to do in the areas of technology and technology literacy. The development process shall include a review of current standards that have been developed or are used by other states and national and international technology associations. To the maximum extent possible, the superintendent shall integrate goal four and the knowledge and skill areas in the other goals in the technology essential academic learning requirements.
     (a) As used in this section, "technology literacy" means the ability to responsibly, creatively, and effectively use appropriate technology to communicate; access, collect, manage, integrate, and evaluate information; solve problems and create solutions; build and share knowledge; and improve and enhance learning in all subject areas and experiences.
     (b) Technology fluency builds upon technology literacy and is demonstrated when students: Apply technology to real-world experiences; adapt to changing technologies; modify current and create new technologies; and personalize technology to meet personal needs, interests, and learning styles.
     (2)(a) Within funds specifically appropriated therefor, the superintendent shall obtain or develop education technology assessments that may be administered in the elementary, middle, and high school grades to assess the essential academic learning requirements for technology. The assessments shall be designed to be classroom or project-based so that they can be embedded in classroom instruction and be administered and scored by school staff throughout the regular school year using consistent scoring criteria and procedures. By the 2010-11 school year, these assessments shall be made available to school districts for the districts' voluntary use. If a school district uses the assessments created under this section, then the school district shall notify the superintendent of public instruction of the use. The superintendent shall report annually to the legislature on the number of school districts that use the assessments each school year.
     (b) Beginning December 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide a report to the relevant legislative committees regarding the use of the assessments.
     (3) This section is suspended until July 1, 2011.

Sec. 16   RCW 17.21.415 and 2001 c 333 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As used in this section, "school" means a licensed day care center or a public kindergarten or a public elementary or secondary school.
     (2) A school shall provide written notification ((annually or upon enrollment)), upon request, to parents or guardians of students and employees describing the school's pest control policies and methods, including the posting and notification requirements of this section.
     (3) A school shall establish a notification system that, as a minimum, notifies interested parents or guardians of students and employees at least forty-eight hours before a pesticide application to a school facility. The notification system shall include posting of the notification in a prominent place in the main office of the school.
     (4) All notifications to parents, guardians, and employees shall include the heading "Notice: Pesticide Application" and, at a minimum, shall state:
     (a) The product name of the pesticide to be applied;
     (b) The intended date and time of application;
     (c) The location to which the pesticide is to be applied;
     (d) The pest to be controlled; and
     (e) The name and phone number of a contact person at the school.
     (5) A school facility application must be made within forty-eight hours following the intended date and time stated in the notification or the notification process shall be repeated.
     (6) A school shall, at the time of application, post notification signs for all pesticide applications made to school facilities unless the application is otherwise required to be posted by a certified applicator under the provisions of RCW 17.21.410(1)(d).
     (a) Notification signs for applications made to school grounds by school employees shall be placed at the location of the application and at each primary point of entry to the school grounds. The signs shall be a minimum of four inches by five inches and shall include the words: "THIS LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN RECENTLY SPRAYED OR TREATED WITH PESTICIDES BY YOUR SCHOOL" as the headline and "FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL" as the footer. The footer shall provide the name and telephone number of a contact person at the school.
     (b) Notification signs for applications made to school facilities other than school grounds shall be posted at the location of the application. The signs shall be a minimum of eight and one-half by eleven inches and shall include the heading "Notice: Pesticide Application" and, at a minimum, shall state:
     (i) The product name of the pesticide applied;
     (ii) The date and time of application;
     (iii) The location to which the pesticide was applied;
     (iv) The pest to be controlled; and
     (v) The name and phone number of a contact person at the school.
     (c) Notification signs shall be printed in colors contrasting to the background.
     (d) Notification signs shall remain in place for at least twenty-four hours from the time the application is completed. In the event the pesticide label requires a restricted entry interval greater than twenty-four hours, the notification sign shall remain in place consistent with the restricted entry interval time as required by the label.
     (7) A school facility application does not include the application of antimicrobial pesticides or the placement of insect or rodent baits that are not accessible to children.
     (8) The prenotification requirements of this section do not apply if the school facility application is made when the school is not occupied by students for at least two consecutive days after the application.
     (9) The prenotification requirements of this section do not apply to any emergency school facility application for control of any pest that poses an immediate human health or safety threat, such as an application to control stinging insects. When an emergency school facility application is made, notification consistent with the school's notification system shall occur as soon as possible after the application. The notification shall include information consistent with subsection (6)(b) of this section.
     (10) A school shall make the records of all pesticide applications to school facilities required under this chapter, including an annual summary of the records, readily accessible to interested persons.
     (11) A school is not liable for the removal of signs by unauthorized persons. A school that complies with this section may not be held liable for personal property damage or bodily injury resulting from signs that are placed as required.

Sec. 17   RCW 28A.650.015 and 2006 c 263 s 917 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall develop and implement a Washington state K-12 education technology plan. The technology plan shall be updated on at least a biennial basis, shall be developed to coordinate and expand the use of education technology in the common schools of the state. The plan shall be consistent with applicable provisions of chapter 43.105 RCW. The plan, at a minimum, shall address:
     (a) The provision of technical assistance to schools and school districts for the planning, implementation, and training of staff in the use of technology in curricular and administrative functions;
     (b) The continued development of a network to connect school districts, institutions of higher learning, and other sources of online information; and
     (c) Methods to equitably increase the use of education technology by students and school personnel throughout the state.
     (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an educational technology advisory committee to assist in the development and implementation of the technology plan in subsection (1) of this section. The committee shall include, but is not limited to, persons representing: The department of information services, educational service districts, school directors, school administrators, school principals, teachers, classified staff, higher education faculty, parents, students, business, labor, scientists and mathematicians, the higher education coordinating board, the workforce training and education coordinating board, and the state library.
     (3) The plan adopted and implemented under this section may not impose on school districts any requirements that are not specifically required by federal law or regulation, including requirements to maintain eligibility for the federal schools and libraries program of the universal service fund.

Sec. 18   RCW 28A.210.020 and 1971 c 32 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Every board of school directors shall have the power, and it shall be its duty to provide for and require screening for the visual and auditory acuity of all children attending schools in their districts to ascertain which if any of such children have defects sufficient to retard them in their studies. Auditory and visual screening shall be made in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by rule or regulation of the state board of health. Prior to the adoption or revision of such rules or regulations the state board of health shall seek the recommendations of the superintendent of public instruction regarding the administration of visual and auditory screening and the qualifications of persons competent to administer such screening. Persons performing visual screening may include, but are not limited to, ophthalmologists, optometrists, or opticians who donate their professional services to schools or school districts. If a vision professional who donates his or her services identifies a vision defect sufficient to affect a student's learning, the vision professional must notify the school nurse and/or the school principal in writing and may not contact the student's parents or guardians directly. A school official shall inform parents or guardians of students in writing that a visual examination was recommended, but may not communicate the name or contact information of the vision professional conducting the screening.

Sec. 19   RCW 28A.655.065 and 2008 c 170 s 205 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature has made a commitment to rigorous academic standards for receipt of a high school diploma. The primary way that students will demonstrate that they meet the standards in reading, writing, mathematics, and science is through the Washington assessment of student learning. Only objective assessments that are comparable in rigor to the state assessment are authorized as an alternative assessment. Before seeking an alternative assessment, the legislature expects students to make a genuine effort to meet state standards, through regular and consistent attendance at school and participation in extended learning and other assistance programs.
     (2) Under RCW 28A.655.061, beginning in the 2006-07 school year, the superintendent of public instruction shall implement objective alternative assessment methods as provided in this section for students to demonstrate achievement of the state standards in content areas in which the student has not yet met the standard on the high school Washington assessment of student learning. A student may access an alternative if the student meets applicable eligibility criteria in RCW 28A.655.061 and this section and other eligibility criteria established by the superintendent of public instruction, including but not limited to attendance criteria and participation in the remediation or supplemental instruction contained in the student learning plan developed under RCW 28A.655.061. A school district may waive attendance and/or remediation criteria for special, unavoidable circumstances.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "applicant" means a student seeking to use one of the alternative assessment methods in this section.
     (4) One alternative assessment method shall be a combination of the applicant's grades in applicable courses and the applicant's highest score on the high school Washington assessment of student learning, as provided in this subsection. A student is eligible to apply for the alternative assessment method under this subsection (4) if the student has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a four point grading scale. The superintendent of public instruction shall determine which high school courses are applicable to the alternative assessment method and shall issue guidelines to school districts.
     (a) Using guidelines prepared by the superintendent of public instruction, a school district shall identify the group of students in the same school as the applicant who took the same high school courses as the applicant in the applicable content area. From the group of students identified in this manner, the district shall select the comparison cohort that shall be those students who met or slightly exceeded the state standard on the Washington assessment of student learning.
     (b) The district shall compare the applicant's grades in high school courses in the applicable content area to the grades of students in the comparison cohort for the same high school courses. If the applicant's grades are equal to or above the mean grades of the comparison cohort, the applicant shall be deemed to have met the state standard on the alternative assessment.
     (c) An applicant may not use the alternative assessment under this subsection (4) if there are fewer than six students in the comparison cohort.
     (5) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop an alternative assessment method that shall be an evaluation of a collection of work samples prepared and submitted by the applicant. Effective September 1, 2009, collection of work samples may be submitted only in content areas where meeting the state standard on the high school assessment is required for purposes of graduation.
     (a) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop guidelines for the types and number of work samples in each content area that may be submitted as a collection of evidence that the applicant has met the state standard in that content area. Work samples may be collected from academic, career and technical, or remedial courses and may include performance tasks as well as written products. The superintendent shall submit the guidelines for approval by the state board of education.
     (b) The superintendent shall develop protocols for submission of the collection of work samples that include affidavits from the applicant's teachers and school district that the samples are the work of the applicant and a requirement that a portion of the samples be prepared under the direct supervision of a classroom teacher. The superintendent shall submit the protocols for approval by the state board of education.
     (c) The superintendent shall develop uniform scoring criteria for evaluating the collection of work samples and submit the scoring criteria for approval by the state board of education. Collections shall be scored at the state level or regionally by a panel of educators selected and trained by the superintendent to ensure objectivity, reliability, and rigor in the evaluation. An educator may not score work samples submitted by applicants from the educator's school district. If the panel awards an applicant's collection of work samples the minimum required score, the applicant shall be deemed to have met the state standard on the alternative assessment.
     (d) Using an open and public process that includes consultation with district superintendents, school principals, and other educators, the state board of education shall consider the guidelines, protocols, scoring criteria, and other information regarding the collection of work samples submitted by the superintendent of public instruction. The collection of work samples may be implemented as an alternative assessment after the state board of education has approved the guidelines, protocols, and scoring criteria and determined that the collection of work samples: (i) Will meet professionally accepted standards for a valid and reliable measure of the grade level expectations and the essential academic learning requirements; and (ii) is comparable to or exceeds the rigor of the skills and knowledge that a student must demonstrate on the Washington assessment of student learning in the applicable content area. The state board shall make an approval decision and determination no later than December 1, 2006, and thereafter may increase the required rigor of the collection of work samples.
     (e) By September of 2006, the superintendent of public instruction shall develop informational materials for parents, teachers, and students regarding the collection of work samples and the status of its development as an alternative assessment method. The materials shall provide specific guidance regarding the type and number of work samples likely to be required, include examples of work that meets the state learning standards, and describe the scoring criteria and process for the collection. The materials shall also encourage students in the graduating class of 2008 to begin creating a collection if they believe they may seek to use the collection once it is implemented as an alternative assessment.
     (6)(a) For students enrolled in a career and technical education program approved under RCW 28A.700.030, the superintendent of public instruction shall develop additional guidelines for collections of work samples that are tailored to different career and technical programs. The additional guidelines shall:
     (i) Provide multiple examples of work samples that are related to the particular career and technical program;
     (ii) Permit work samples based on completed activities or projects where demonstration of academic knowledge is inferred; and
     (iii) Provide multiple examples of work samples drawn from career and technical courses.
     (b) The purpose of the additional guidelines is to provide a clear pathway toward a certificate of academic achievement for career and technical students by showing them applied and relevant opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and to provide guidance to teachers in integrating academic and career and technical instruction and assessment and assisting career and technical students in compiling a collection. The superintendent of public instruction shall develop and disseminate additional guidelines for no fewer than ten career and technical education programs representing a variety of program offerings by no later than September 1, 2008. Guidelines for ten additional programs shall be developed and disseminated no later than June 1, 2009.
     (c) The superintendent shall consult with community and technical colleges, employers, the workforce training and education coordinating board, apprenticeship programs, and other regional and national experts in career and technical education to create appropriate guidelines and examples of work samples and other evidence of a career and technical student's knowledge and skills on the state academic standards.
     (7) The superintendent of public instruction shall study the feasibility of using existing mathematics assessments in languages other than English as an additional alternative assessment option. The study shall include an estimation of the cost of translating the tenth grade mathematics assessment into other languages and scoring the assessments should they be implemented.
     (8) The superintendent of public instruction shall implement:
     (a) By June 1, 2006, a process for students to appeal the score they received on the high school assessments; and
     (b) By January 1, 2007, guidelines and appeal processes for waiving specific requirements in RCW 28A.655.061 pertaining to the certificate of academic achievement and to the certificate of individual achievement for students who: (i) Transfer to a Washington public school in their junior or senior year with the intent of obtaining a public high school diploma, or (ii) have special, unavoidable circumstances.
     (9) The state board of education shall examine opportunities for additional alternative assessments, including the possible use of one or more standardized norm-referenced student achievement tests and the possible use of the reading, writing, or mathematics portions of the ACT ASSET and ACT COMPASS test instruments as objective alternative assessments for demonstrating that a student has met the state standards for the certificate of academic achievement. The state board shall submit its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the legislature by January 10, 2008.
     (10) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to implement this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 20   The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 28A.230.092 (Washington state history and government--Course content) and 2008 c 190 s 2;
     (2) RCW 28A.230.185 (Family preservation education program) and 2005 c 491 s 2;
     (3) RCW 28A.300.412 (Washington civil liberties public education program -- Report) and 2000 c 210 s 6;
     (4) RCW 28A.600.415 (Alternatives to suspension -- Community service encouraged -- Information provided to school districts) and 1992 c 155 s 2;
     (5) RCW 28A.625.010 (Short title) and 1995 c 335 s 107, 1990 c 33 s 513, & 1986 c 147 s 1;
     (6) RCW 28A.625.020 (Recipients -- Awards) and 1991 c 255 s 1;
     (7) RCW 28A.625.030 (Washington State Christa McAuliffe award for teachers) and 1991 c 255 s 2 & 1986 c 147 s 3;
     (8) RCW 28A.625.042 (Certificates -- Recognition awards) and 1994 c 279 s 4;
     (9) RCW 28A.625.050 (Rules) and 1995 c 335 s 108, 1991 c 255 s 8, 1990 c 33 s 516, 1988 c 251 s 2, & 1986 c 147 s 5;
     (10) RCW 28A.625.350 (Short title) and 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 1;
     (11) RCW 28A.625.360 (Excellence in teacher preparation award) and 2006 c 263 s 804 & 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 2;
     (12) RCW 28A.625.370 (Award for teacher educator) and 2006 c 263 s 820 & 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 3;
     (13) RCW 28A.625.380 (Rules) and 2006 c 263 s 821 & 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 4;
     (14) RCW 28A.625.390 (Educational grant -- Eligibility -- Award) and 2006 c 263 s 822 & 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 5;
     (15) RCW 28A.625.900 (Severability -- 1990 1st ex.s. c 10) and 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 10;
     (16) RCW 28A.630.045 (Local control and flexibility in assessments -- Pilot project) and 2006 c 175 s 1; and
     (17) RCW 28A.630.881 (School-to-work transition project -- Findings--Intent -- Outreach -- Technical assistance) and 1997 c 58 s 304.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 21   Sections 11, 13, and 15 of this act expire July 1, 2011.