SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5163

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 Passed Senate, February 25, 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: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Hobbs, Roach, Rolfes, O'Ban, Hatfield, Litzow, McCoy, Mullet, Conway, Fain, Chase and Darneille).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/22/15, 1/29/15 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/25/15, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5163 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

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.

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.

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.

Summary of Substitute 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 newly enrolled and transfer students from military families. Students from military families means students with a parent or guardian who is in the following two categories:

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.

OSPI must conduct an analysis of the average number of students from military families who are special education students statewide, by school district, and by school. However, to protect the privacy of students, the data from schools and districts that have fewer than ten students from military families who are special education students must not be reported. OSPI must report its analysis to the Legislature by December 31, 2017.

This bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

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 on Original Bill: PRO: There needs to be an identifier in the data system to track students from military families. Currently there is no method to track these students' attendance and academic progress. Other states have passed similar laws. Collecting this data will help with decisionmaking, especially for awarding grants.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Mark San Souci, Dept. of Defense State Liaison Office.