SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2360
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 February 18, 2016
Title: An act relating to eliminating the quality education council.
Brief Description: Eliminating the quality education council.
Sponsors: Representatives Lytton, Magendanz, Sullivan, Reykdal, Rossetti, Santos and Chandler.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/15/16, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/18/16.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
Background: Quality Education Council (QEC). In 2009, the Legislature created the QEC for the stated purpose of recommending and informing the implementation of basic education by the Legislature; to identify measurable goals and priorities for the educational system in Washington State; and, with the Legislature, monitor and oversee three technical working groups, which have all submitted final reports. The members of the QEC are eight legislators, and one representative from each of the following: the Office of the Governor, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the State Board of Education (SBE), the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), the Department of Early Learning, and the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC). The QEC is limited to meeting no more than four times per year. The Legislature directed the QEC to report to the Governor and the Legislature in 2010 but the QEC has no annual reporting requirement.
In subsequent years, the Legislature has given the following additional tasks to QEC:
to receive an annual report from the state-level building bridges working group regarding dropouts, which is also submitted to the Legislature and the Governor;
to receive from the SBE any proposed changes to the high school graduation requirements, which is also submitted to the Legislature for review; and
to work collaboratively with OSPI, SBE, PESB, and EOGOAC to close the achievement gap.
SBE. In 2013, the Legislature directed the SBE to work with other state education agencies to identify system-wide performance goals and measurements for statewide indicators of the health of the education system and to report on the status of each indicator in each even number year. The 2014 report included the following:
Status of the Indicators - Four Indicators are not Meeting Targets
Indicator | Most Recent Year | Measure (%) | Target (%) | Meeting Targets? | Improving? |
Kindergarten Readiness | 2014 | 40.8 | 43.1 | NO | YES |
3rd Grade Literacy | 2014 | 72.0 | 73.0 | NO | NO |
8th Grade High School Readiness | 2014 | 43.8 | 48.7 | NO | YES |
High School Graduation | 2013 | 76.0 | 78.6 | NO | NO |
Quality of High School Diploma | 2012 | TBD | 84.8 | TBD | TBD |
Post-Secondary Attainment and Workforce | 2012 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Access to Quality Schools | 2013 | TBD | 59.8 | TBD | TBD |
Note: TBD = to be determined on account of data availability.
Summary of Bill: The statute creating the QEC and one of the technical working groups is repealed. The references to the QEC in other statutes are removed.
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: None.
Persons Testifying: No one.
Persons Signed In to Testify But Not Testifying: No one.