HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 ESB 6418

As Passed Senate, February 12, 2000

Title:  An act relating to establishing a process and a date for determining when the high school assessment is valid and reliable and shall lead to a certificate of mastery.

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Brief Description:  Establishing a process to determine when the high school assessment is valid and reliable.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Eide, Brown, Rasmussen, Bauer, Goings, Costa, Kohl‑Welles and Wojahn.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 21, 2000

Bill Analysis Prepared by: Susan Morrissey  (786-7111).

Background:  Under current law, after the State Board of Education (SBE) determines that the high school assessment system is reliable and valid, successful completion of the assessment will lead to a Certificate of Mastery (COM).  The COM will be a high school graduation requirement, but not the only requirement.  By law, the high school assessments will eventually include reading, writing, mathematics, communication, listening, social studies, arts, and health and fitness. 

In January, 2000, the SBE adopted rules defining the time lines and parameters of the certificate of mastery.  Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, successful completion of the reading, writing, mathematics, and communication sections of the high school assessment will be one of the requirements for high school graduation.  Passage of those assessments may be acknowledged through endorsements on students' high school diplomas beginning in 2001.  Passage of the science section of the assessment will be required for graduation beginning in 2010.  Once the arts and health and fitness assessments are available, students will receive endorsements on their diplomas for successful completion of those assessments. 

The SBE and local school boards may adopt additional high school graduation requirements.

Summary:  A process and time line are established for the SBE to determine that the high school assessment is reliable and valid.

By September 2010, the SBE must determine whether the high school assessment of the Washington assessment of student learning is sufficiently reliable and valid based on findings addressing specified educational issues, legal issues, and testing mechanics issues.

The board must find that:

‚Curriculum and instruction are aligned to the assessments;

‚Students have had an opportunity to receive the aligned instruction;

‚The assessments measure learning accurately;

‚Educators have training in the administration of the assessments;

‚Educational issues have been addressed, including assistance for students who do not meet the standards on the assessments;

‚The assessments are mechanically sound and passing standards are empirically reliable; and

‚There is a correlation between scores on state required norm-referenced and criterion referenced  tests.

The SBE must consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission, higher education representatives, educators, school directors, students, parents, and interested citizens when preparing its findings.

The SBE must also adopt rules that ensure that approved private school students, home-based instruction students, and students who come from out of state shall not be denied any educational or job related benefits obtained by students  who successfully complete the high school assessment standards and achieve the certificate of mastery.  The SBE will also ensure that a certificate of mastery will not be required to enter into a Running Start program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested  February 21, 2000.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.