H-253                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 894

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Cooper, Valle, Ebersole and Rasmussen

Read first time 2/13/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to students; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.58 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The evergreen state examination program is established for the purpose of administering the evergreen state examination to pupils enrolled in public high schools.  The evergreen state examination shall measure pupil achievement under state-wide standards of competency in academic subjects.  A special honors designation and insignia on a high school diploma for qualifying pupils shall be provided.  Participation in the evergreen state examination program is voluntary on the part of each school district maintaining a high school.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) On or before March 15, 1988, the superintendent of public instruction shall prepare, with the cooperation of representatives from institutions of higher education, school districts, and certificated personnel, academic subject matter examinations for the evergreen state examination in each of the following academic subject areas:

          (a) English literature and composition;

          (b) Mathematics;

          (c) Laboratory sciences;

          (d) Foreign languages;

          (e) United States history;

          (f) Health sciences; and

          (g) Other academic subjects which are a part of the high school curriculum as may be designated by the state board of education.

          (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules establishing procedures for the administration and assessment of the evergreen state examination.  The rules shall establish minimum achievement scores for eligibility for an honors designation and insignia on a high school diploma for pupils with qualifying scores on one or more academic subject matter examinations.  The superintendent of public instruction shall provide school districts with the necessary materials for the conferring of honors.  The adopted rules shall also require participating school districts to notify pupils of the opportunity to take the evergreen state examination, to administer the examinations in accordance with the procedures established by the superintendent of public instruction, and to affix the appropriate honors designation and insignia on high school diplomas.  Pupils shall not be required to take the evergreen state examination.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The superintendent of public instruction shall prepare an annual report comparing examination results among all participating school districts including the average scores achieved on the academic subject matter examinations, the number of pupils taking each examination, and the number of pupils qualifying for honors.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     School districts may encourage local representatives of business and industry to recognize pupils who receive an honors designation based on the evergreen state examination.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.58 RCW.