Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1684

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 Summary of Bill

Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to make an online course in financial education available to all school districts and to select the course in consultation with the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership.
Requires school districts to provide all high school students with the opportunity to complete the course, whether through a regularly-scheduled class or at other times.

Background:

Digital Learning Department. In 2009 the Digital Learning Department (DLD) was established in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The DLD maintains a website that provides information about online learning opportunities; approves multi-district online learning providers; provides technical assistance to school districts; and to the extent funds are available, provides online learning tools for students and educators. The DLD also acts as an online course broker and makes more than 600 online courses available to school districts on a subscription basis.

Financial Education. The Financial Education Public-Private Partnership (Partnership) is housed within the OSPI and promotes financial literacy and financial education by providing information to school districts about standards, curriculum, instructional strategies, and professional development. The Partnership has recommended that the JumpStart Coalition personal financial literacy learning standards for grades K-12 be adopted as the learning standards for financial education in Washington schools. The JumpStart Coalition is a national organization that promotes financial education and is composed of over 180 public and private partners with state affiliates, including one in Washington.

Summary of Bill:

The OSPI, through the DLD, must make an online course in financial education available to all school districts. The course content must be equivalent to one-half high school credit. The OSPI selects the course with input from the Partnership to assure that the course meets financial education learning standards endorsed by the Partnership. The OSPI must seek federal and private funds to support the course.

School districts are required to provide all high school students the opportunity to complete the online financial education course, whether through a regularly-scheduled class; before or after school; during lunch, library, or study hall; or other times. School districts must also publicize the availability and importance of the course to students and their families. Districts are encouraged to grant credit toward high school graduation for completion of the course.