SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1149
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. |
As of March 26, 2015
Title: An act relating to providing for educational data on students from military families.
Brief Description: Providing for educational data on students from military families.
Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Muri, Lytton, Appleton, Klippert, Hawkins, Kilduff, Gregerson, Magendanz and Fey).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/02/15, 64-33.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/19/15.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background: According to a recent report by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Washington serves 32,000 military-connected students.
The K–12 Data Governance Group is a workgroup within OSPI that oversees the development and implementation of a K–12 education data system for financial, student, and educator data.
OSPI is required to develop standards for the school data system, including data validation, code validation, decimal and integer validation, and required field validation. OSPI must develop a reporting format and instructions for school districts to collect and submit data on student demographics. This data must be disaggregated by distinct ethnic categories within racial subgroups but not by students from a military family.
In 2007 the United States Department of Education provided final guidance on the reporting of racial and ethnic data. The guidelines allow individuals to self-identify their ethnicity and race and permits individuals to select more than one race and/or ethnicity. The guidelines expand reporting options to seven categories: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, White, and Two or More Races.
Summary of Bill: By the 2016-17 school year, OSPI's reporting format and instructions for school districts to collect and submit data must include data on students from military families. Students from military families means students with a parent or guardian who is in the following two categories:
a member of the active duty United States armed forces; and
a member of the reserves of the United States armed forces or a member of the Washington National Guard.
Data must be collected and submitted separately for these two categories.
The K–12 Data Governance Group must develop best practice guidelines for the collection and regular updating of this data on students from military families. Collection and updating of this data must use the United States Department of Education 2007 Race and Ethnicity Reporting Guidelines, including the sub-racial and sub-ethnic categories within those guidelines, with the following modifications:
further disaggregation of the Black category to differentiate students of African origin and students native to the United States with African ancestors;
further disaggregation of countries of origin for Asian students;
further disaggregation of the White category to include sub-ethnic categories for Eastern European nationalities that have significant populations in Washington; and
for students who report as multiracial, collection of their racial and ethnic combination of categories.
OSPI must conduct an analysis of the average number of students from military families who are special education students. The data reported must include state, district, and school-level information. OSPI must report its analysis to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2017.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Students from military families often move and transfer schools. The military wants an easy and certain way to identify students from military families, so it can help these students with funding.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Muri, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed in to Testify But Not Testifying: No one.
Signed In, Unable to Testify & Submitted Written Testimony: Mark San Souci, Dept. of Defense State Liaison Office.