Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1510

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 an assessment of students in state-funded full-day kindergarten classrooms.

Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, Maxwell and Kelley; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires school districts receiving all-day kindergarten support to agree to utilize a kindergarten assessment specified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Hearing Date: 2/3/11

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

Background:

School districts receiving all-day kindergarten support must agree to:

Summary of Bill:

A new condition is added for receipt of all-day kindergarten funding. Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, school districts receiving all-day kindergarten support must also agree to identify the skills, knowledge, and characteristics of kindergarten students at the beginning of the school year in order to determine kindergarten readiness and inform instruction to meet the needs of individual students. The schools must utilize a kindergarten assessment process specified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and report the results to the Superintendent.

The Superintendent is required to make the assessment process available on a voluntary basis at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on 1/25/11.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on September 1, 2011.