BILL REQ. #: Z-0344.2
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2011 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/18/11. Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
AN ACT Relating to revising education provisions to implement budget reductions; amending RCW 28A.300.136, 28A.300.137, 28A.300.380, 28A.300.515, 28A.630.016, 28A.655.066, and 28A.500.030; providing expiration dates; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1 RCW 28A.300.136 and 2010 c 235 s 901 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) To the extent funds are available, the superintendent of public
instruction shall provide support for an achievement gap oversight and
accountability committee ((is created to synthesize)). The committee's
work may include synthesis of the findings and recommendations from the
2008 achievement gap studies into an implementation plan, and ((to
recommend)) development of recommended policies and strategies to the
superintendent of public instruction, the professional educator
standards board, and the state board of education to close the
achievement gap.
(2) The committee shall recommend specific policies and strategies
in at least the following areas:
(a) Supporting and facilitating parent and community involvement
and outreach;
(b) Enhancing the cultural competency of current and future
educators and the cultural relevance of curriculum and instruction;
(c) Expanding pathways and strategies to prepare and recruit
diverse teachers and administrators;
(d) Recommending current programs and resources that should be
redirected to narrow the gap;
(e) Identifying data elements and systems needed to monitor
progress in closing the gap;
(f) Making closing the achievement gap part of the school and
school district improvement process; and
(g) Exploring innovative school models that have shown success in
closing the achievement gap.
(3) Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the committee may seek
input and advice from other state and local agencies and organizations
with expertise in health, social services, gang and violence
prevention, substance abuse prevention, and other issues that
disproportionately affect student achievement and student success.
(4) The achievement gap oversight and accountability committee
shall be composed of the following members:
(a) The chairs and ranking minority members of the house and senate
education committees, or their designees;
(b) One additional member of the house of representatives appointed
by the speaker of the house and one additional member of the senate
appointed by the president of the senate;
(c) A representative of the office of the education ombudsman;
(d) A representative of the center for the improvement of student
learning in the office of the superintendent of public instruction;
(e) A representative of federally recognized Indian tribes whose
traditional lands and territories lie within the borders of Washington
state, designated by the federally recognized tribes; and
(f) Four members appointed by the governor in consultation with the
state ethnic commissions, who represent the following populations:
African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific
Islander Americans.
(5) The governor and the tribes are encouraged to designate members
who have experience working in and with schools.
(6) The committee may convene ad hoc working groups to obtain
additional input and participation from community members. Members of
ad hoc working groups shall serve without compensation and shall not be
reimbursed for travel or other expenses.
(7) The chair or cochairs of the committee shall be selected by the
members of the committee. Staff support for the committee shall be
provided by the center for the improvement of student learning.
Members of the committee shall serve without compensation but must be
reimbursed as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative
members of the committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in
accordance with RCW 44.04.120.
(8) The superintendent of public instruction, the state board of
education, the professional educator standards board, and the quality
education council shall work collaboratively with the achievement gap
oversight and accountability committee to close the achievement gap.
Sec. 2 RCW 28A.300.137 and 2009 c 468 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
To the extent funds are available, beginning in January 2010, the
achievement gap oversight and accountability committee shall report
annually to the superintendent of public instruction, the state board
of education, the professional educator standards board, the governor,
and the education committees of the legislature on the strategies to
address the achievement gap and on the progress in improvement of
education performance measures for African-American, Hispanic, American
Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, and Pacific Islander/Hawaiian Native
students.
Sec. 3 RCW 28A.300.380 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 37 s 913 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) To the extent funds are available, the superintendent of public
instruction shall maintain support for statewide coordination for
career and technical student organizations by providing program staff
support that is available to assist in meeting the needs of career and
technical student organizations and their members and students. The
superintendent may provide additional support to the organizations
through contracting with independent coordinators.
(2) Career and technical student organizations eligible for
technical assistance and other support services under this section are
organizations recognized as career and technical student organizations
by:
(a) The United States department of education; or
(b) The superintendent of public instruction, if such recognition
is recommended by the Washington association for career and technical
education.
(3) Career and technical student organizations eligible for
technical assistance and other support services under this section
include, but are not limited to: The national FFA organization;
family, career, and community leaders of America; skillsUSA;
distributive education clubs of America; future business leaders of
America; and the technology student association.
Sec. 4 RCW 28A.300.515 and 2007 c 396 s 15 are each amended to
read as follows:
To the extent funds are available, the superintendent of public
instruction shall provide support for statewide coordination for math,
science, and technology, including employing a statewide director for
math, science, and technology. The duties of the director shall
include, but not be limited to:
(1) Within funds specifically appropriated therefor, obtain a
statewide license, or otherwise obtain and disseminate, an interactive,
project-based high school and middle school technology curriculum that
includes a comprehensive professional development component for
teachers and, if possible, counselors, and also includes a systematic
program evaluation. The curriculum must be distributed to all school
districts, or as many as feasible, by the 2007-08 school year;
(2) Within funds specifically appropriated therefor, supporting a
public-private partnership to assist school districts with implementing
an ongoing, inquiry-based science program that is based on a research-based model of systemic reform and aligned with the Washington state
science grade level expectations;
(3) Within funds specifically appropriated therefor, supporting a
public-private partnership to provide enriching opportunities in
mathematics, engineering, and science for underrepresented students in
grades kindergarten through twelve using exemplary materials and
instructional approaches;
(4) In an effort to increase precollege and prework interest in
math, science, and technology fields, in collaboration with the
community and technical colleges, the four-year institutions of higher
education, and the workforce training and education coordinating board,
conducting outreach efforts to attract middle and high school students
to careers in math, science, and technology and to educate students
about the coursework that is necessary to be adequately prepared to
succeed in these fields;
(5) Coordinating youth opportunities in math, science, and
technology, including facilitating student participation in school
clubs, state-level fairs, national competitions, and encouraging
partnerships between students and university faculty or industry to
facilitate such student participation;
(6) Developing and maintaining public-private partnerships to
generate business and industry assistance to accomplish the following:
(a) Increasing student engagement and career awareness, including
increasing student participation in the youth opportunities in
subsection (5) of this section;
(b) Creation and promotion of student scholarships, internships,
and apprenticeships;
(c) Provision of relevant teacher experience and training,
including on-the-job professional development opportunities;
(d) Upgrading kindergarten through twelfth grade school equipment
and facilities to support high quality math, science, and technology
programs;
(7) Assembling a cadre of inspiring speakers employed or
experienced in the relevant fields to speak to kindergarten through
twelfth grade students to demonstrate the breadth of the opportunities
in the relevant fields as well as share the types of coursework that
((is [are])) are necessary for someone to be successful in the relevant
field;
(8) Providing technical assistance to schools and school districts,
including working with counselors in support of the math, science, and
technology programs; and
(9) Reporting annually to the legislature about the actions taken
to provide statewide coordination for math, science, and technology.
Sec. 5 RCW 28A.630.016 and 2007 c 522 s 959 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1)(a) Research has shown that early, intensive interventions can
significantly improve reading, written language, and mathematics skills
for children who are struggling academically. This early research-based assistance has been successful in reducing the number of children
who require specialized programs. Research further suggests that the
disabilities of many students with mild and moderate disabilities are
correctable through strategic early intervention and the students do
not necessitate special education eligibility. However, by being
effective in reducing the number of students eligible for these
programs, school district funding is reduced.
(b) The purpose of the program in this section is to continue
support to the existing pilot districts and to encourage other school
districts to participate as pilot districts to improve the
implementation of high quality general education research-based core
instructional programs to meet the needs of students struggling
academically, while reducing the number of students inappropriately
referred and placed in special education under the specific learning
disability eligibility category because of ineffective instructional
practices. This will allow special education programs to concentrate
specially designed instruction on students who truly require special
education services. The goal of this assistance is to effectively
address reading, written language, and mathematics difficulties
resulting in a substantially greater proportion of students meeting the
progressively increasing performance standards for both the aggregate
and disaggregated subgroups under federal law.
(c) The participating pilot districts implementing the special
services pilot program have met the goals of the pilot program
resulting in (i) a substantial number of underachieving students
meeting the progressively increasing reading performance standards and
(ii) a reduction in the number of children who require special
education.
(2) Seven school districts may participate in the special services
pilot program, including two school districts already participating and
five additional school districts. The special services pilot program
shall begin in the 2007-08 school year and conclude in the 2010-11
school year.
(3) School districts participating in the pilot program shall
receive state special education funding in accordance with state
special education funding formulas and a separate pilot program
appropriation from sources other than special education funds. The
separate appropriation shall be: (a) The school district's estimated
state special education funding for the current year based on the
school district's average percentage of students age three through
twenty-one who were eligible for special education services for the
school year before participation as a pilot program as reported to the
office of the superintendent of public instruction; minus (b) the
school district's actual state special education funding based on the
district's current percentage of students age three through twenty-one
eligible for special education services as reported to (([the office
of])) the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
The superintendent shall adjust the factors in (a) of this
subsection for one or more participating school districts, where
legislative changes to the special education funding formula impact the
funding mechanism of this program.
(4) Participation in the pilot program shall not increase or
decrease a district's ability to access the safety net for high-cost
students by virtue of the district's participation in the program.
Districts participating in the pilot program shall have access to the
special education safety net using a modified application approach for
the office of the superintendent of public instruction demonstration of
financial need. The superintendent shall create a modified application
to include all special education revenues received by the district, all
pilot program funding, expenditures for students with individual
education programs, and expenditures for students generating pilot
program revenue. Districts participating in the pilot program that
seek safety net funding shall convincingly demonstrate to the safety
net committee that any change in demonstrated need is not attributable
to their participation in this pilot program.
(5) School districts participating in the program must agree to:
(a) Implement the program as part of the school district's general
education curriculum for all students;
(b) Use a multitiered service delivery system to provide scientific
research-based instructional interventions addressing individual
student needs in the areas of reading, written language, or
mathematics;
(c) Develop and implement an assessment system to conduct universal
screening, progress monitoring, targeted assessments, and outcome
assessments to identify the reading, written language, or mathematics
needs of each student and to monitor student progress;
(d) Incorporate student-specific data obtained through the pilot
program when conducting an evaluation to determine if the student has
a disability;
(e) Assure that parents are informed of: The amount and nature of
student performance data that is collected and the general education
services that are provided; the strategies for increasing the student's
rate of learning; the parents' right to make a referral for special
education evaluation if they suspect the student has a disability; and
the parents' right to have input into designed interventions;
(f) Assure that parents are provided assessments of achievement at
reasonable intervals addressing student progress during instruction;
(g) Actively engage parents as partners in the learning process;
(h) Comply with state special education requirements; and
(i) Participate and provide staff expertise in the design and
implementation of an evaluation of the program as determined by the
superintendent of public instruction. Districts shall annually review
and report progress, including objective measures or indicators that
show the progress towards achieving the purpose and goal of the
program, to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
(6) By December 15, 2010, the superintendent of public instruction
shall submit a report to the governor and appropriate committees of the
legislature that summarizes the effectiveness of the pilot program in
this section. The report shall also include a recommendation as to
whether or not the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or
otherwise modified.
(7) This section expires ((June 30)) March 1, 2011.
Sec. 6 RCW 28A.655.066 and 2009 c 310 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1)(a) In consultation with the state board of education, the
superintendent of public instruction shall develop statewide end-of-course assessments for high school mathematics that measure student
achievement of the state mathematics standards. The superintendent
shall take steps to ensure that the language of the assessments is
responsive to a diverse student population. The assessments shall be
implemented statewide in the 2010-11 school year.
(b) The superintendent shall develop end-of-course assessments for
the first year of high school mathematics that include the standards
common to algebra I and integrated mathematics I and for the second
year of high school mathematics that include the standards common to
geometry and integrated mathematics II. The assessments under this
subsection (1)(b) shall be used to demonstrate that a student meets the
state standard on the mathematics content area of the high school
Washington assessment of student learning for purposes of RCW
28A.655.061.
(c) The superintendent of public instruction shall also develop
subtests for the end-of-course assessments that measure standards for
the first two years of high school mathematics that are unique to
algebra I, integrated mathematics I, geometry, and integrated
mathematics II. The results of the subtests shall be reported at the
student, teacher, school, and district level.
(2) For the graduating class of 2013 and for the purposes of the
certificate of academic achievement under RCW 28A.655.061, a student
may use:
(a) Results from the end-of-course assessment for the first year of
high school mathematics or the results from the end-of-course
assessment for the second year of high school mathematics; or
(b) Results from a retake assessment.
(3) For the graduating ((classes of 2013 and)) class of 2014 and
for purposes of the certificate of academic achievement under RCW
28A.655.061, a student may use:
(a) Results from the end-of-course assessment for the first year of
high school mathematics plus the results from the end-of-course
assessment for the second year of high school mathematics; or
(b) Results from ((the comprehensive mathematics assessment to
demonstrate that a student meets the state standard on the mathematics
content area of the high school Washington assessment of student
learning)) one or both retake assessments as needed to demonstrate
achievement of the state mathematics standards for both first and
second years of high school mathematics.
(((3))) (4) Beginning with the graduating class of 2015 and for
purposes of the certificate of academic achievement under RCW
28A.655.061, the mathematics content area of the Washington assessment
of student learning shall be assessed using the end-of-course
assessment for the first year of high school mathematics plus the end-of-course assessment for the second year of high school mathematics.
All of the objective alternative assessments available to students
under RCW 28A.655.061 and 28A.655.065 shall be available to any student
who has taken the sequence of end-of-course assessments once but does
not meet the state mathematics standard on the sequence of end-of-course assessments.
(((4))) (5) The superintendent of public instruction shall report
at least annually or more often if necessary to keep the education
committees of the legislature informed on each step of the development
and implementation process under this section.
Sec. 7 RCW 28A.500.030 and 2010 c 237 s 6 are each amended to
read as follows:
Allocation of state matching funds to eligible districts for local
effort assistance shall be determined as follows:
(1) Funds raised by the district through maintenance and operation
levies shall be matched with state funds using the following ratio of
state funds to levy funds:
(a) The difference between the district's fourteen percent levy
rate and the statewide average fourteen percent levy rate; to
(b) The statewide average fourteen percent levy rate.
(2) The maximum amount of state matching funds for districts
eligible for local effort assistance shall be the district's fourteen
percent levy amount, multiplied by the following percentage:
(a) The difference between the district's fourteen percent levy
rate and the statewide average fourteen percent levy rate; divided by
(b) The district's fourteen percent levy rate.
(3)(a) Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection,
beginning with calendar year 2007, allocations and maximum eligibility
under this chapter shall be fully funded at one hundred percent and
shall not be reduced.
(b) From January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011, allocations and maximum
eligibility under this chapter shall be multiplied by 0.8928.
(c) From July 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011, allocations and
maximum eligibility under this chapter shall be multiplied by 0.93713.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8 Section 7 of this act expires January 1,
2018.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9 This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately.