FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1569

                         C 347 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Establishing an excellence in mathematics grant program.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Education (Originally sponsored by Representatives Keiser, Talcott, Schual‑Berke, Carlson, Quall and Regala).

House Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

Background:

A number of reports have suggested that the mathematics instruction provided to elementary and middle school students in Washington and throughout the rest of the country needs to be improved.  The Third International Mathematics and Science study shows that, although fourth grade students scored above average in mathematics, eighth grade students scored well below average.  The study also found that the mathematics curriculum in middle and junior high schools may be a weak link in public education throughout this country. 

In addition to the findings of these studies, reports from the Commission on Student Learning indicate that Washington's fourth and seventh grade students scored poorly on the mathematics component of the 1998 assessment of student learning.  Students who took the assessment, on average, had their lowest scores on the mathematics component of the test.   Fewer than 31 percent of the students met the fourth grade proficiency standard.  Of the students who took the seventh grade trial mathematics assessment in 1998, only 20 percent met or exceeded the state proficiency standard.

Summary:

The Excellence in Mathematics Training Program is established.  The purpose of the program is to improve the mathematics skills of elementary, middle, and junior high school students by providing their teachers with training in effective, research-based instructional methods.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will develop and implement the training programs in mathematics instruction and assessment.  In selecting teachers to participate in the program, OSPI will give priority to teachers from schools and school districts in which a significant portion of the students performed below standard on one or more mathematics assessments.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate470(Senate amended)

House970(House concurred)

Effective:July 25, 1999