HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6221

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Bailey, Rinehart, Bender, Metcalf, Lee, Murray and Conner;by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

Creating the high school and beyond assessment program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (12)

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

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Holland, Horn and Schoon.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) annually administers an academic achievement test to all fourth, eighth and 10th graders in Washington public schools.  Once every two years, SPI administers an academic achievement test to a sample of 2,000 11th graders.  As part of the testing program, eighth and 10th graders also complete a questionnaire about academic interests and future plans.  The SPI proposes changes to the state testing program to provide enhanced information to students, parents, educators, and education policy makers.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that all 10th graders and samples of 11th graders be tested on academic achievement is repealed and the Washington State High School and Beyond Assessment Program is established.  The SPI administers an annual assessment to all 11th grade students.  The 11th grade assessment reflects high school curricula and the reasoning and thinking skills essential to adult life.  The achievement measures assess students' strengths and deficiencies in broad content areas.  Information is also collected about students' career interests and related items such as course selection patterns, course credits, and grades.

The scope of the eighth grade test is broadened to provide information about students' current academic proficiencies, proficiencies in the reasoning and thinking skills needed for successful entry into courses required for high school graduation, and about students' interests and plans for high school and beyond.

The content and procedures of the eighth grade and 11th grade assessments are coordinated to maximize the value of the information provided to students, teachers, and parents.

The SPI reports annually to the Legislature on the 11th grade test.

The program will be implemented in the 1991-92 school year.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Don Johnson, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Don Pittman and Gloria Winnick, Department of Defense.

House Committee - Testimony For:    We are expanding the eighth grade test to help us identify students who are having difficulties at an earlier age.  The 10th grade test will be abolished and we will develop an 11th grade test.  The test will evaluate a student's strengths and weaknesses in the high school curriculum, thinking skills, and reasoning skills to evaluate the student's current level of performance and to assist the student in making career and training decisions for the future.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The current testing program allows parents and the community to assess how students are progressing.  By having a consistent testing instrument used over time at grades four, eight and 10, we can evaluate our educational systems effectiveness over a period of time.  The use of testing for career planning and counselling should be an individual decision and not mandated by the state.  The Department of Defense has developed a career counselling package that may be used free of charge by schools. There are also other career planning and counselling tests and materials that an individual may select.  Selection of career counselling materials should be an individual decision.