BILL REQ. #:  H-4414.1 

Read first time 02/23/12.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the statewide high school assessment in science; amending RCW 28A.655.061 and 28A.655.068; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   In section 1, chapter 22, Laws of 2011 1st sp. sess., the legislature stated that it "does not wish to narrow the high school science curriculum to a singular focus on biology." The legislature finds that the unusual reality of only one science end-of-course test, namely in biology, required for graduation for the class of 2015 does narrow the focus and creates an unintended consequence that runs counter to other educational goals of the state of Washington.
     The high stakes graduation requirement for biology has resulted in some schools letting go physics instructors in favor of biology instructors. The artificial emphasis on biology caused by the graduation requirement also prevents teachers from spending time teaching nonbiology science subjects that are known to be necessary for students in today's world. Science teachers are experiencing the pressure from the high stakes nature of the one biology test, which creates an overwhelming concentration of staff, time, and resources into that one subject to the exclusion of physical, earth, and space sciences, and engineering.
     The legislature is also aware that next generation science standards developed from the framework for science education will be released for adoption in the fall of 2012 and that this could make necessary further revisiting of the entire assessment process for science in this state.
     The legislature therefore intends to set aside the biology end-of-course exam as a graduation requirement until such time as the state has the funding and resources to develop and implement a second science end-of-course or integrated science exam or until the decision is made about how to assess the next generation science standards, which are being released for consideration for adoption in the fall of 2012.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.655.061 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 22 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The high school assessment system shall include but need not be limited to the statewide student assessment, opportunities for a student to retake the content areas of the assessment in which the student was not successful, and, if approved by the legislature pursuant to subsection (((10))) (9) of this section, one or more objective alternative assessments for a student to demonstrate achievement of state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments for each content area shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the statewide student assessment for each content area.
     (2) Subject to the conditions in this section, a certificate of academic achievement shall be obtained by most students at about the age of sixteen, and is evidence that the students have successfully met the state standard in the content areas included in the certificate. With the exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045 or 28A.655.0611, acquisition of the certificate is required for graduation from a public high school but is not the only requirement for graduation.
     (3) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, with the exception of students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045, a student who meets the state standards on the reading, writing, and mathematics content areas of the high school statewide student assessment shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. If a student does not successfully meet the state standards in one or more content areas required for the certificate of academic achievement, then the student may retake the assessment in the content area up to four times at no cost to the student. If the student successfully meets the state standards on a retake of the assessment then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. Once objective alternative assessments are authorized pursuant to subsection (((10))) (9) of this section, a student may use the objective alternative assessments to demonstrate that the student successfully meets the state standards for that content area if the student has taken the statewide student assessment at least once. If the student successfully meets the state standards on the objective alternative assessments then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement.
     (4) ((Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, a student must meet the state standards in science in addition to the other content areas required under subsection (3) of this section on the statewide student assessment or the objective alternative assessments in order to earn a certificate of academic achievement.
     (5))) The state board of education may not require the acquisition of the certificate of academic achievement for students in home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW, for students enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or for students satisfying the provisions of RCW 28A.155.045.
     (((6))) (5) A student may retain and use the highest result from each successfully completed content area of the high school assessment.
     (((7))) (6) School districts must make available to students the following options:
     (a) To retake the statewide student assessment up to four times in the content areas in which the student did not meet the state standards if the student is enrolled in a public school; or
     (b) To retake the statewide student assessment up to four times in the content areas in which the student did not meet the state standards if the student is enrolled in a high school completion program at a community or technical college. The superintendent of public instruction and the state board for community and technical colleges shall jointly identify means by which students in these programs can be assessed.
     (((8))) (7) Students who achieve the standard in a content area of the high school assessment but who wish to improve their results shall pay for retaking the assessment, using a uniform cost determined by the superintendent of public instruction.
     (((9))) (8) Opportunities to retake the assessment at least twice a year shall be available to each school district.
     (((10))) (9)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop options for implementing objective alternative assessments, which may include an appeals process for students' scores, for students to demonstrate achievement of the state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the statewide student assessment and be objective in its determination of student achievement of the state standards. Before any objective alternative assessments in addition to those authorized in RCW 28A.655.065 or (b) of this subsection are used by a student to demonstrate that the student has met the state standards in a content area required to obtain a certificate, the legislature shall formally approve the use of any objective alternative assessments through the omnibus appropriations act or by statute or concurrent resolution.
     (b)(i) A student's score on the mathematics, reading or English, or writing portion of the SAT or the ACT may be used as an objective alternative assessment under this section for demonstrating that a student has met or exceeded the state standards for the certificate of academic achievement. The state board of education shall identify the scores students must achieve on the relevant portion of the SAT or ACT to meet or exceed the state standard in the relevant content area on the statewide student assessment. ((A student's score on the science portion of the ACT or the science subject area tests of the SAT may be used as an objective alternative assessment under this section as soon as the state board of education determines that sufficient data is available to identify reliable equivalent scores for the science content area of the statewide student assessment.)) After the first scores are established, the state board may increase but not decrease the scores required for students to meet or exceed the state standards.
     (ii) A student who scores at least a three on the grading scale of one to five for selected AP examinations may use the score as an objective alternative assessment under this section for demonstrating that a student has met or exceeded state standards for the certificate of academic achievement. A score of three on the AP examinations in calculus or statistics may be used as an alternative assessment for the mathematics portion of the statewide student assessment. A score of three on the AP examinations in English language and composition may be used as an alternative assessment for the writing portion of the statewide student assessment. A score of three on the AP examinations in English literature and composition, macroeconomics, microeconomics, psychology, United States history, world history, United States government and politics, or comparative government and politics may be used as an alternative assessment for the reading portion of the statewide student assessment. ((A score of three on the AP examination in biology, physics, chemistry, or environmental science may be used as an alternative assessment for the science portion of the statewide student assessment.
     (11))) (10) By December 15, 2004, the house of representatives and senate education committees shall obtain information and conclusions from recognized, independent, national assessment experts regarding the validity and reliability of the high school Washington assessment of student learning for making individual student high school graduation determinations.
     (((12))) (11) To help assure continued progress in academic achievement as a foundation for high school graduation and to assure that students are on track for high school graduation, each school district shall prepare plans for and notify students and their parents or legal guardians as provided in this subsection. Student learning plans are required for eighth grade students who were not successful on any or all of the content areas of the state assessment during the previous school year or who may not be on track to graduate due to credit deficiencies or absences. The parent or legal guardian shall be notified about the information in the student learning plan, preferably through a parent conference and at least annually. To the extent feasible, schools serving English language learner students and their parents shall translate the plan into the primary language of the family. The plan shall include the following information as applicable:
     (a) The student's results on the state assessment;
     (b) If the student is in the transitional bilingual program, the score on his or her Washington language proficiency test II;
     (c) Any credit deficiencies;
     (d) The student's attendance rates over the previous two years;
     (e) The student's progress toward meeting state and local graduation requirements;
     (f) The courses, competencies, and other steps needed to be taken by the student to meet state academic standards and stay on track for graduation;
     (g) Remediation strategies and alternative education options available to students, including informing students of the option to continue to receive instructional services after grade twelve or until the age of twenty-one;
     (h) The alternative assessment options available to students under this section and RCW 28A.655.065;
     (i) School district programs, high school courses, and career and technical education options available for students to meet graduation requirements; and
     (j) Available programs offered through skill centers or community and technical colleges, including the college high school diploma options under RCW 28B.50.535.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.655.068 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 22 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, the statewide high school assessment in science shall be an end-of-course assessment for biology that measures the state standards for life sciences, in addition to systems, inquiry, and application as they pertain to life sciences.
     (2) The superintendent of public instruction may develop science end-of-course assessments in subjects in addition to biology for purposes of RCW 28A.655.061, when so directed by the legislature.
     (3) The superintendent of public instruction may participate with consortia of multiple states as common student learning standards and assessments in science are developed. The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education, may modify the essential academic learning requirements and statewide student assessments in science, including the high school assessment, according to the multistate common student learning standards and assessments as long as the education committees of the legislature have opportunities for review before the modifications are adopted, as provided under RCW 28A.655.070.
     (((4) The statewide high school assessment under this section shall be used to demonstrate that a student meets the state standards in the science content area of the statewide student assessment for purposes of RCW 28A.655.061.))