H-259                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 835

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Sprenkle, Grant, Bristow, H. Sommers, Todd, Ebersole, Winsley, P. King and Holm

Read first time 2/11/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to basic competency tests for students; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.03 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop and adopt standards for basic skills in reading, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science for grade eight.  The superintendent of public instruction shall periodically, but not less than every five years, review and make appropriate revisions to the basic skills standards adopted under this section.

          (2) Basic competency tests in science, social studies, and language arts shall be developed and administered to a sample of students at the eighth grade level in school years 1987-88 and 1988-89.  Annual administration of the basic competency test to all students at the eighth grade level shall begin in school year 1990-91.

          (3) Basic competency tests developed under this section shall be periodically reviewed and revised to insure reliability and validity of the tests.  The superintendent of public instruction shall consult with classroom teachers in the appropriate subject matter areas in developing and revising the basic competency tests.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) In school year 1990-91, and annually thereafter, the superintendent of public instruction shall cause basic competency tests in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts to be administered to all students in the eighth grade, except those handicapped students exempted under this section.  Any student who does not score at or above the level of mastery of basic skills as established by the superintendent of public instruction shall not be promoted to the ninth grade.  The eighth grade basic competency tests shall be administered on two additional testing dates to be established by the superintendent of public instruction between June 1 and August 31 of each year for those students who fail to achieve mastery level performance on the initial administration of the competency test.  Each school district shall provide the opportunity for supplemental instruction between June 1 and the final testing date for each school year for those students who fail to achieve mastery level performance on the initial administration of the basic competency test.  Such programs of supplemental instruction shall be developed in accordance with procedures established by the superintendent of public instruction.  Any student who is retained at the eighth grade level shall be evaluated by the student's school principal, teachers, and counselors who shall jointly prepare an academic skills development plan to assist the student to attain mastery in the area in which the student is deficient.  Educational programming for any student who fails to achieve mastery level performance on the basic competency test at the conclusion of the second school year such student is in the eighth grade shall be provided in accordance with guidelines adopted by the superintendent of public instruction.

          (2) Any student who has a physical or mental impairment or a learning disability that prevents the student from mastering the competencies which the basic skills assessment instruments are designed to measure may be exempted from the requirements of this section.