BILL REQ. #:  S-3927.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/21/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to remedial postsecondary education; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that some students who have recently graduated from high school must immediately enroll in one or more remedial or precollege classes at Washington's public colleges and universities before they proceed with college-level courses. The legislature also finds that these students should have received basic skills in English; reading; writing, including spelling and grammar; study skills; and mathematics before graduating from high school. It is the intent of the legislature that current trisector initiatives be continued and strengthened to communicate with parents and students about what students need to do to gain and maintain the appropriate math, writing, and reading skills to assure they can start immediately in college-level work. Before the beginning of the 2005 session, the K-20 community will engage in an organized strategy aimed at reducing the need for remediation of recent high school graduates.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Subject to funding, the Washington institute for public policy shall report the extent to which school districts are able to provide enough sections of the courses needed for students to gain and maintain appropriate math, writing, and reading skills that will prepare them for college-level work. The institute shall make recommendations about how to fill any gaps revealed through its research. A preliminary report of the study is due to the legislature by September 1, 2004, and a final report is due December 1, 2004.