SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 325

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ebersole, Betrozoff and Walk)

Providing for curriculum based assessment for bilingual education programs and programs for those with learning disabilities.

House Committe on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 24, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bender, Craswell, Patterson, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Marcia Costello (786-7419)

                  March 25, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 24, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently, to participate in programs for the learning disabled, students must receive a complete assessment which includes an evaluation by a school psychologist using standardized intelligence tests, achievement tests and other information for placement.  Curriculum based assessment is a term which describes a procedure that measures a child's achievement against the curriculum objectives for his/her grade level in a particular subject matter.

SUMMARY:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall complete a study and adopt, where appropriate, curriculum based assessment procedures, and rules allowing school districts to elect to use such procedures as early intervention attempts and as academic measures for supplementing a student's eligibility for the learning disabilities program.  Such procedures could be used as an ongoing assessment for such students while in special education but cannot be used to deny a student the right to an assessment to determine eligibility for participating in learning disabilities programs.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The striking amendment provides that the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall complete a study and, as necessary, adopt rules regarding the appropriate use of curriculum-based assessment procedures.  Curriculum-based assessment procedures may be used for developing academic early intervention programs and curriculum planning.  The use of these procedures shall not deny any student the right to an assessment to determine eligibility of placement in learning disabilities programs.

A title amendment strikes the title language referring to transitional bilingual programs which are not mentioned in the bill.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Judy Hartmann and Judy Schrag, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Michael McDonald, Olympia School District; Ben Edlund, Washington School Directors Association; Bob Pickles, Washington Education Association; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators