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 Reported by Senate Committee On:

Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 25, 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, 2/25/16 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Litzow, Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; McAuliffe, Ranking Member; Billig, Fain, Hill, Mullet, Rivers and Rolfes.

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:

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.