SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6209

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey, Rinehart, Lee and Benitz)

Allowing the state's minimum high school graduation requirements to be taken prior to ninth grade.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 13, 1988; January 18, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6209 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Kiskaddon, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bender, Craswell, Lee, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  February 8, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 5, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Current state law permits students in grades seven and eight to complete the Washington State history and government high school graduation course requirement.  All other minimum state high school graduation course requirements must be completed in grades nine through twelve.  The educational program of both highly capable and other students could be enhanced by allowing such students to complete state high school graduation course and credit requirements prior to the ninth grade.

SUMMARY:

Seventh and eighth grade students may complete any minimum state high school graduation requirement subject to State Board of Education rules and local school district policies.

Statutory language is amended to clarify that 19 credits shall be required for graduation for students who commence the ninth grade after July 1, 1987.  The 19 credits shall be inclusive of credits for courses taken in grades seven or eight or both to meet the minimum state high school graduation requirements.  One of the 6 1/2 elective credits required by the state for high school graduation must be taken from fine, visual or performing arts or any of the other subjects required by the state.

Districts are encouraged to:  consider arrangements to assist students in grades seven and eight to satisfy minimum state and local graduation requirements; and consider arrangements with community colleges and four-year institutions so high school students might take college-level courses on an elective basis.

The State Board of Education is granted authority to adopt rules relating to the equivalency of content between high school and junior high/middle school curriculum.

It is not legislative intent to promote the replacement of middle school curriculum by high school curriculum. It is legislative intent that parent and student interest in seeking "advanced placement" in high school programs for seventh and eighth grade students must be balanced against district interests, policies, programmatic constraints and facility limitations.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Gerald Pierson, Association of Washington School Principals; Judy Hartmann, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Monica Schmidt, State Board of Education; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association