BILL REQ. #:  S-4254.1 

Read first time 02/06/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to systematic reviews of education investments; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.150 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that every year the state invests billions of dollars to help students acquire the knowledge and skills that are needed, in the contemporary setting, to equip students for their role as citizens and as potential competitors in today's market, as well as in the marketplace of ideas.
     (2) The legislature intends to strengthen the educational system and assist Washington's children through the various stages of their education by implementing best practices and evidence-based strategies to provide the opportunity for students to learn and achieve the state-established student educational outcomes.
     (3) The legislature further intends to build a fair and effective funding system by targeting investments and resources to provide an equal educational opportunity for all students, regardless of background, family income, where they live, or where they attend school; and to amply fund the schools that serve them.
     (4) The legislature further intends to implement an unbiased and effective method of analyzing how the state investments in public education are impacting Washington's students, so that the legislature can continue to make educational changes to the evolving program of basic education in those areas where emerging research and evidence shows there are more effective and efficient strategies for helping students succeed; and so the state can meet its constitutional duty under Article IX of the state Constitution.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:
     The legislature directs the Washington institute for public policy to conduct the following on-going systematic reviews and biannually report to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2016, and by December 1st in every even-numbered year thereafter:
     (1) A review of high quality research to identify and update inventories of evidence-based, research-based, and promising educational practices and services, in early learning, K-12, and higher education that can, with a high degree of certainty, lead to better educational outcomes coupled with a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars; and
     (2) A review of the state's investments in the educational system, including early learning, K-12, and higher education, with a focus on K-12, to identify the investments that result in the most effective and evidence-based practices that reliably provide an opportunity for students to successfully meet the state-established student outcomes. The initial analyses shall focus on the nine hundred eighty-two million dollars provided in the 2013-2015 omnibus appropriations act for enhancements to the program of basic education.