AN
ACT Relating to reading in the primary grades; amending RCW 28A.230.190; adding
new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW
28A.630.886; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature acknowledges the definition of reading as "Reading is the
process of constructing meaning from written text. It is the complex skill
requiring the coordination of a number of interrelated sources of
information." Marilyn Adams, Becoming a Nation of Readers 7. The
legislature also acknowledges the role that reading accuracy and fluency plays
in the comprehension of text. The legislature finds that one way to determine if
a child's inability to read is problematic is to compare the child's reading
fluency and accuracy skills with that of other children. To accomplish this
objective, the legislature finds that assessments that test students' reading
fluency and accuracy skills must be scientifically valid and reliable. The
legislature further finds that early identification of students with potential
reading difficulties can provide valuable information to parents, teachers, and
school administrators. The legislature finds that assessment of second grade
students' reading fluency and accuracy skills can assist teachers in planning
and implementing a reading curriculum that addresses students' deficiencies in
reading.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A new
section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The superintendent of public instruction shall identify a collection of tests
that can be used to measure second grade reading accuracy and fluency skills.
The purpose of the second grade reading test is to provide information to
parents, teachers, and school administrators on the level of acquisition of
reading accuracy and fluency skills of each student at the beginning of second
grade. Each of the tests in the collection must:
(a)
Provide a reliable and valid measure of student's reading accuracy and fluency
skills;
(b)
Be able to be individually administered;
(c)
Have been approved by a panel of nationally recognized professionals in the
area of beginning reading, whose work has been published in peer-reviewed
education research journals, and professionals in the area of measurement and
assessment; and
(d)
Assess student skills in recognition of letter sounds, phonemic awareness, word
recognition, and reading connected text. Text used for the test of fluency
must be ordered in relation to difficulty.
(2)
The superintendent of public instruction shall select tests for use by schools
and school districts participating in pilot projects under section 3 of this
act during the 1997-98 school year. The final collection must be selected by
June 30, 1998.
(3)
The superintendent of public instruction shall develop a per-pupil cost for
each of the tests in the collection that details the costs for booklets,
scoring services, and training required to reliably administer the test. To
the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction
shall pay for booklets or other testing material, scoring services, and
training required to administer the test.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. A
new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The superintendent of public instruction shall create a pilot project to
identify which second grade reading tests selected under section 2 of this act
will be included in the final collection of tests that must be available by
June 30, 1998.
(2)
Schools and school districts may voluntarily participate in the second grade
reading test pilot projects in the 1997-98 school year. Schools and school
districts voluntarily participating in the pilot project test are not required
to have the results available by the fall parent-teacher conference.
(3)(a)
Starting in the 1998-99 school year, school districts must select a test from
the collection adopted by the superintendent of public instruction. Selection
must be at the entire school district level and must remain in place at that
school district for at least three years.
(b)
Students who score substantially below grade level when tested in the fall
shall be tested at least one more time during the second grade. Test
performance deemed to be "substantially below grade level" is to be
determined for each test in the collection by the superintendent of public
instruction during the pilot year of 1997-98.
(c)
If a student, while taking the test, reaches a point at which the student's
performance will be considered "substantially below grade level" regardless
of the student's performance on the remainder of the test, the test may be
discontinued.
(d)
Each school must have the test results available by the fall parent-teacher
conference. Schools must notify parents about the second grade reading test
during the conferences, inform the parents of their students' performance on
the test, identify actions the school intends to take to improve the child's
reading skills, and provide parents with strategies to help the parents improve
their child's score.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. A
new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a primary grade
reading grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to enhance
teachers' skills in using teaching methods that have proven results gathered
through quantitative research and to assist students in beginning reading.
(2)
Schools and school districts may apply for primary grade reading grants. To
qualify for a grant, the grant proposal shall provide that the grantee must:
(a)
Document that the instructional model the grantee intends to implement,
including teaching methods and instructional materials, is based on results
validated by quantitative methods;
(b)
Agree to work with the independent contractor identified under subsection (3)
of this section to determine the effectiveness of the instructional model
selected and the effectiveness of the staff development provided to implement
the selected model; and
(c)
Provide evidence of a significant number of students who are not achieving at
grade level.
To
the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction
shall make initial grants available by September 1, 1997, for schools and school
districts voluntarily participating in pilot projects under section 3 of this
act. Subject to available funding, additional applications may be submitted to
the superintendent of public instruction by September 1, 1998, and by September
1st in subsequent years. Grants will be awarded for two years.
(3)
The superintendent of public instruction shall contract with an independent
contractor who has experience in program evaluation and quantitative methods to
evaluate the impact of the grant activities on students' reading skills and the
effectiveness of the staff development provided to teachers to implement the
instructional model selected by the grantee. Five percent of the funds awarded
for grants shall be set aside for the purpose of the grant evaluation conducted
by the independent contractor.
(4)
The superintendent of public instruction shall submit biennially to the
legislature and the governor a report on the primary grade reading grant
program. The first report must be submitted not later than December 1, 1999,
and each succeeding report must be submitted not later than December 1st of
each odd-numbered year. Reports must include information on how the schools
and school districts used the grant money, the instructional models used, how
they were implemented, and the findings of the independent contractor.
(5)
The superintendent of public instruction shall disseminate information to the
school districts five years after the beginning of the grant program regarding
the results of the effectiveness of the instructional models and implementation
strategies.
(6)
Funding under this section shall not become part of the state's basic program
of education obligation as set forth under Article IX of the state
Constitution.
Sec.
5. RCW
28A.230.190 and 1990 c 101 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Every school district is encouraged to test pupils in grade two by an
assessment device designed or selected by the school district. This test shall
be used to help teachers in identifying those pupils in need of assistance in
the skills of reading, writing, mathematics, and language arts. The test
results are not to be compiled by the superintendent of public instruction, but
are only to be used by the local school district. School districts shall
test students for second grade reading accuracy and fluency skills starting in
the 1998-99 school year as provided in section 3 of this act.
(2)
The superintendent of public instruction shall prepare and conduct, with the
assistance of school districts, a standardized achievement test to be given
annually to all pupils in grade four. The test shall assess students' skill in
reading, mathematics, and language arts and shall focus upon appropriate input
variables. Results of such tests shall be compiled by the superintendent of
public instruction, who shall make those results available annually to the
legislature, to all local school districts and subsequently to parents of those
children tested. The results shall allow parents to ascertain the achievement
levels and input variables of their children as compared with the other
students within the district, the state and, if applicable, the nation.
(3)
The superintendent of public instruction shall report annually to the legislature
on the achievement levels of students in grade four.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. RCW
28A.630.886 and 1995 c 303 s 2 are each repealed.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 7. A
new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The superintendent of public instruction may use up to one percent of the
appropriated funds for administration of the primary grade reading grant
program established in chapter . . ., Laws of 1997 (this act).
(2)
The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt timelines and rules as
necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to administer the primary reading grant
program in section 2 of this act.
(3)
Funding under this section shall not become a part of the state's basic program
of education obligation as set forth under Article IX of the state
Constitution.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 8. 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 takes effect immediately.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. If
specific funding for section 4 of this act, referencing this act by bill or
chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 1997, in the
omnibus appropriations act, sections 4 and 7 of this act are null and void.
