FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 786

                                  C 401 L 87

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Pruitt, L. Smith, Ebersole, Walker, Spanel, Rasmussen, Sprenkle, Holm, Peery, Todd, Holland, Winsley, Ferguson, May, Unsoeld and Silver)

Providing for the encouragement and measurement of innovative programs by school districts.

House Committe on Education

Senate Committee on Education

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

One of the schools' major responsibilities is to provide children with the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to compete in today's world.  To develop innovative and creative programs that meet the needs of their community, school districts must have autonomy and flexibility.  At the same time, the community will expect efficiency, cost effectiveness and accountability from the school district.

SUMMARY:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to establish a Temporary Committee on the Assessment and Accountability of Educational Outcomes.  The committee will be composed of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as chair, a representative of the Governor's Office, three teachers, three principals, two school directors, two superintendents, four legislators and one representative from each of the following groups:  educational service districts, parents, students, labor, business, citizens and vocational education.

The committee is responsible for developing educational outcomes by grade level, groups of grade levels or age levels by December 1, 1988.  The committee's responsibilities also include developing measures of educational outcomes and preparing an analysis of the reliability, validity and effectiveness of various indicators in measuring educational outcomes.  The indicators may include student achievement, attendance, dropout rates, instructional effectiveness, perception of school, school environment and student characteristics. The committee may also study the impact of waiving certain statutory requirements as a way of improving educational outcomes.

Measurement of outcomes is to be assessed on a district-wide basis, but should permit building-by-building comparison.  The outcomes measures will use existing state mandated or authorized testing as part of the evaluation process.

The committee is required to report to the legislature by January 1, 1989, on the development of outcomes and outcomes measures.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may accept gifts, grants, and contributions from public and private sources to support the work of the committee.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may select 10 districts to field test educational outcomes and outcomes measures developed by the committee.  Selected districts will conduct field tests for the 1989-90 through 1992-93 school years.  Participating districts must be identified by June 30, 1989.  Participating districts are required to report annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the results of the field tests. By January 1, 1994, the Superintendent of Public Instruction must report to the legislature on the results of the field tests, make recommendations on the statewide implementation of outcomes measures, and recommend whether selected provisions of state statutes should be amended or repealed to enhance the benefits of educational outcomes and related measures.

Teachers are encouraged to apply for grant money to develop innovative ways to achieve educational outcomes to meet both statewide and building level goals.

The sum of $49,500 is appropriated for the purposes of the act.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 71  27

      Senate    33    13 (Senate amended)

      House 95   2 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987