HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1741

BYRepresentatives Betrozoff, Peery, G. Fisher, Walker, Ferguson, Miller, Winsley and Wood; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Revising the eleventh grade assessment.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Valle and Walker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (24)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Ebersole, May, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MARCH 4, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Currently, school districts are required to test all fourth, eighth and tenth graders in Washington public schools on academic achievement tests selected by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  School districts are also required to test a sample of 2,000 eleventh grade students on a state selected academic achievement test.

SUMMARY:

The requirements that all tenth graders and 2,000 eleventh graders be tested on an academic achievement test are repealed.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to have school districts test all eleventh grade students on the Washington Pre-college Test.  The test is not only a measure of basic skills, but has an extensive component for career counselling.  This includes an interest inventory and guidance profile based on a review of the student's transcript.  A system of follow up on students through employers and vocational or higher education institutions will be established.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  The substitute bill does not provide for analysis of high school transcripts for all eleventh graders, or for collection of follow-up data at the twelfth grade and postsecondary levels.  The bill will take effect only if funding is provided by means of a specific appropriation referencing the bill by number.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Education) Dr. Al Rasp, Superintendent of Public Instruction; John Kvamme, Director of Counseling, Tacoma School District; and Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators.

(Appropriations) Gorden Ensign, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Education) The change from a tenth grade to an eleventh grade test will provide information to provide better career counseling to all students, not just those planning to attend college.  We will also receive a better picture of a student's skills based on the actual high school curriculum and higher order thinking skills. Finally by the development of a follow up system we will see how we are doing in preparing our students for work, vocational training, or the institutions of higher education.

(Appropriations) The original bill would broaden the focus of the current statewide test at the high school level, and provide a broad-based comprehensive guidance profile for all students.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.