1708.E AAS CONF REPT 4/25/93

 

 

 

EHB 1708 - CONF REPT - S3456.1

By Conference Committee

 

                                                   ADOPTED 4/25/93

 

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

 

    "Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.630.885 and 1992 c 141 s 202 are each amended to read as follows:

    (((2))) (1) The Washington commission on student learning is hereby established.  The primary purposes of the commission are to identify what all students need to know and be able to do based on the student learning goals of the governor's council on education reform and funding, to develop student assessment and school accountability systems, and to take other steps necessary to develop a performance-based education system.  The commission shall include three members of the state board of education, three members appointed by the governor before July 1, 1992, and ((three)) five members appointed no later than ((February)) June 1, 1993, by the governor elected in the November 1992 election.  The governor shall appoint a chair from the commission members, and fill any vacancies of gubernatorial appointments that may occur.  The state board of education shall fill any vacancies of state board of education appointments that may occur.  In making the appointments, educators, business leaders, and parents shall be represented, and nominations from state-wide education, business, and parent organizations shall be requested.  Efforts shall be made to ensure that the commission reflects the cultural diversity of the state's K-12 student population and that the major geographic regions in the state are represented.  Appointees shall be qualified individuals who are supportive of educational restructuring, who have a positive record of service, and who will devote sufficient time to the responsibilities of the commission to ensure that the objectives of the commission are achieved.

    (((3) The commission shall begin its substantive work subject to subsection (1) of this section.

    (4))) (2) The commission shall establish technical advisory committees.  Membership  of the technical advisory committees shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, professionals from the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education, and other state and local educational practitioners and student assessment specialists.

    (((5))) (3) The commission, with the assistance of the technical advisory committees, shall:

    (a) Identify what all elementary and secondary students need to know and be able to do.  At a minimum, these essential academic learning requirements shall include reading, writing, speaking, science, history, geography, mathemat­ics, and critical thinking.  In developing these essential academic learning requirements, the commission shall incorporate the student learning goals identified by the council on education reform and funding;

    (b) By December 1, 1995, present to the state board of education and superintendent of public instruction a state-wide academic assessment system for use in the elementary grades designed to determine if each student has mastered the essential academic learning requirements identified in (a) of this subsection.  The academic assessment system shall include a variety of methodologies, including performance-based measures.  The assessment system shall be designed so that the results under the assessment system are used by educators as tools to evaluate instructional practices, and to initiate appropriate educational support for students who do not master the essential academic learning requirements.  Mastery of each component of the essential academic learning requirements shall be required before students progress in subsequent components of the essential academic learning requirements.  The state board of education and superintendent of public instruction shall implement the elementary academic assessment system beginning in the 1996-97 school year, unless the legislature takes action to delay or prevent implementation of the assessment system and essential academic learning requirements.  The state board of education and superintendent of public instruction may modify the academic assessment system, as needed, in subsequent school years;

    (c) By December 1, 1996, present to the state board of education and superintendent of public instruction a state-wide academic assessment system for use in the secondary grades designed to determine if each student has mastered the essential academic learning requirements identified for secondary students in (a) of this subsection.  The academic assessment system shall use a variety of methodologies, including performance-based measures, to determine if students have mastered the essential academic learning requirements, and shall lead to a certificate of mastery.  The certificate of mastery shall be required for graduation.  The assessment system shall be designed  so that the results are used by educators to evaluate instructional practices, and to initiate appropriate educational support for students who do not master the essential academic learning requirements.  The commission shall recommend to the state board of education whether the certificate of mastery should take the place of the graduation requirements or be required for graduation in addition to graduation requirements.  The state board of education and superintendent of public instruction shall implement the secondary academic assessment system beginning in the 1997-98 school year, unless the legislature takes action to delay or prevent implementation of the assessment system and essential academic learning requirements.  The state board of education and superintendent of public instruction may modify the assessment system, as needed, in subsequent school years;

    (d) Consider methods to address the unique needs of special education students when developing the assessments in (b) and (c) of this subsection;

    (e) Develop strategies that will assist educators in helping students master the essential academic learning requirements;

    (f) Establish a center the primary role of which is to plan, implement, and evaluate a high quality professional development process.  The quality schools center shall:  Have an advisory council composed of educators, parents, and community and business leaders; use best practices research regarding instruction, management, curriculum development, and assessment; coordinate its activities with the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education; employ and contract with individuals who have a commit­ment to quality reform; prepare a six-year plan to be updated every two years; and be able to accept resources and funding from private and public sources;

    (g) Develop recommendations for the repeal or amendment of federal, state, and local laws, rules, budgetary language, regulations, and other factors that inhibit schools from adopting strategies designed to help students achieve the essential academic learning requirements;

    (h) Develop recommendations on the time, support, and resources, including technical assistance, needed by schools and school districts to help students achieve the essential academic learning requirements.  These recommendations shall include an estimate for the legislature, superintendent of public instruction, and governor on the expected cost of implementing the elementary and secondary academic assessment systems during the 1995-97 biennium and beyond;

    (i) Develop recommendations for consideration by the higher education coordinating board for adopting college and university entrance requirements that would assist schools in adopting strategies designed to help students achieve the essential academic learning requirements;

    (j) By December 1, 1996, recommend to the legislature, state board of education, and superintendent of public instruction a state-wide accountability system to evaluate accurately and fairly the level of learning occurring in individual schools and school districts.  The commission also shall recommend to the legislature steps that should be taken to assist school districts and schools in which learning is significantly below expected levels of performance as measured by the academic assessment systems established under this section;

    (k) Report annually by December 1st to the legislature and the state board of education on the progress, findings, and recommendations of the commission; and

    (l) Complete other tasks, as appropriate.

    (((6))) (4) The commission shall coordinate its activities with the state board of education and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

    (((7))) (5) The commission shall seek advice broadly from the public and all interested educational organizations in the conduct of its work, including holding periodic regional public hearings.

    (((8))) (6) The commission shall select an entity to provide staff support and the office of financial management shall contract with that entity.  The commission may direct the office of financial management to enter into subcontracts with school districts, teachers, higher education faculty, state agencies, business organizations, and other individuals and organizations to assist the commission in its deliberations.

    (((9))) (7) Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately."

 

 

 

EHB 1708 - CONF REPT - S3456.1

By Conference Committee

 

                                                   ADOPTED 4/25/93

 

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "learning;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 28A.630.885; and declaring an emergency."

 

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