Read first time 01/10/2006.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to educational assessments; amending RCW 28A.230.095; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that instruction in social studies, arts, health, and fitness is important to ensure a well-rounded and complete education. In particular, the civic mission of schools is strengthened and enhanced by comprehensive civics education and assessments. The legislature finds that effective and accountable democratic government depends upon an informed and engaged citizenry, and therefore, students should learn their rights and responsibilities as citizens, where those rights and responsibilities come from, and how to exercise them.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.230.095 and 2004 c 19 s 203 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) By the end of the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall have in place in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools assessments or other strategies to assure that students have an opportunity to learn the essential academic learning requirements in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness. Social studies includes history, geography, civics, economics, and social studies skills. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit an implementation verification report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
     (2) Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall require students in the fourth or fifth grades, the seventh or eighth grades, and the eleventh or twelfth grades to each complete at least one classroom-based assessment in civics. The civics assessment may be selected from a list of classroom-based assessments approved by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit implementation verification reports to the office of the superintendent of public instruction documenting the use of the classroom-based assessments in civics.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent shall use the funds to provide competitive grants to school districts for curriculum alignment, development of innovative civics projects, and other activities that support the civics assessment under this act. As a condition of grant receipt, districts shall make the products developed under the grant widely available as examples of best practices.